Shloka 53
Devanagari script
ननु त्वाहुर्वेदितारं महास्त्रं ब्राह्मं विधेयं परमं जनास्तत्
Transliteration
nanu tvāhur veditāraṁ mahāstraṁ brāhmaṁ vidheyaṁ paramaṁ janās tat
Translation
உண்மையிலேயே மக்கள் கூறுவர்—உத்தமமான பிரம்மாஸ்திரம் எனும் அந்த மாபெரும் தெய்வீக அஸ்திரம், அதை உண்மையாக அறிந்தவனாலேயே செலுத்தப்பட வேண்டும் என்று.
Word by Word
ननुindeed; surely; well then
ननु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootननु
त्वाyou (object)
त्वा:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootत्वद्
FormAccusative, Singular
आहुःthey say; they have said
आहुः:
TypeVerb
Rootअह्
FormPerfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
वेदितारम्knower; one who knows
वेदितारम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवेदितृ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
महास्त्रम्a great weapon (astra)
महास्त्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमहास्त्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
ब्राह्मम्Brahma-related; Brahmic
ब्राह्मम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootब्राह्म
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
विधेयम्to be employed/used; to be applied
विधेयम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootवि-धा (विधा) + यत्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
परमम्supreme; highest
परमम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootपरम
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
जनाःpeople
जनाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तत्that
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaB
Brāhmāstra (Brahmā-weapon)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Supreme power (like the Brāhmāstra) is not meant for indiscriminate use; it must be wielded only by a true knower who follows proper discipline and ethical restraint.
Sañjaya comments on the principle governing the use of the Brāhmāstra, emphasizing that common tradition holds it should be deployed only by one who genuinely understands it—hinting at the tension between capability, legitimacy, and moral limits in the battle.