Shloka 4

आर्जुन–गन्धर्वसंवादः

Arjuna–Gandharva Dialogue on Honor, Night-Power, and Purohita-Nīti

Devanagari script

इत्यर्थमिष्यते5पत्यं तारयिष्यति मामिति । अस्मिन्नुपस्थिते काले तरध्वं प्लववन्मया,'संतानकी इच्छा इसीलिये की जाती है कि यह मुझे संकटसे उबारेगी। अत: इस समय जो संकट उपस्थित हुआ है, उसमें नौकाकी भाँति मेरा उपयोग करके आपलोग शोकसागरसे पार हो जाइये

Transliteration

ity artham iṣyate 'patyaṃ tārayiṣyati mām iti | asminn upasthite kāle taradhvaṃ plavavan mayā ||

Translation

సంతానం కావాలని కోరేది ‘అది నన్ను ఆపద నుండి రక్షిస్తుంది’ అనే భావంతోనే. ఇప్పుడు ఈ సంకటకాలం వచ్చి నిలిచింది; నావలా నన్ను ఉపయోగించి మీరు శోకసముద్రాన్ని దాటి పోండి.

Word by Word

इतिthus

अर्थम्purpose/meaning (as object of 'is desired')

इष्यतेis desired/is wished

अपत्यम्offspring/child

तारयिष्यतिwill ferry/save

माम्me

इतिthus (quotative)

अस्मिन्in this

उपस्थितेpresent/arrived

कालेat the time

तरध्वम्cross over (you all)!

प्लववत्like a boat/raft (as)

मयाby me/with me

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames progeny not merely as continuation of lineage but as a dharmic support in times of crisis: children are expected to help parents ‘cross over’ suffering, practically and emotionally, like a boat carrying someone over dangerous waters.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates a reflection voiced in the story-context: at a moment of pressing danger and sorrow, the speaker urges others to rely on him as a means of deliverance—using the boat metaphor to express guidance and rescue through a difficult passage.