Shloka 10
Arjuna’s Self-Identification and the Ten Names
Uttara–Arjuna Saṃvāda
नदीज लड्केशवनारिकेतु- न॑गाह्वयो नाम नगारिसूनु: । एषो<ड्रनावेषधर: किरीटी जित्वा5व य॑ नेष्यति चाद्य गा व:,“गंगानन्दन! जिनकी ध्वजापर हनुमानजी विराजमान होते हैं, एक वृक्षका नाम (अर्जुन) ही जिनका नाम है और जो इन्द्रके पुत्र हैं, वे किरीटधारी धनंजय ही नारी-वेश धारण किये यहाँ आ रहे हैं। ये जिसको जीतकर आज हमारी इन गौओंको लौटा ले जायूँगे, उस दुर्योधनकी रक्षा कीजिये
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
nadīja-laṅkeśa-vanāriketunagāhvayo nāma nagārisūnuḥ |
eṣo 'ḍranāveṣadharaḥ kirīṭī jitvā 'va yaṃ neṣyati cādya gā vaḥ ||
गङ्गानन्दन! कपिध्वजः किरीटी धनञ्जयः—इन्द्रसूनुः, वृक्षनाम्ना च प्रसिद्धः—एष स्त्रीवेषधारीहागच्छति। एष आज गाः प्रत्यानेष्यति, यं जित्वा; तस्मात् दुर्योधनं रक्षध्वम्।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya responsibility: when one’s people and property are threatened, protection and rightful recovery are duties. It also shows ethical realism—recognizing true strength (Arjuna) and urging prudent protection of one’s leader (Duryodhana) rather than reckless pride.
During the cattle-recovery episode in Virāṭa’s kingdom, Arjuna—living incognito and presently in a feminine disguise—approaches the battlefield. The speaker identifies him by his epithets (Hanumān-bannered, Indra’s son, ‘Arjuna’ as a tree-name) and warns that he will defeat the aggressor and reclaim the cows, urging Bhīṣma to safeguard Duryodhana.