Shloka 21

अर्जुन–उलूपीसंवादः

Arjuna and Ulūpī: Explanation of Śānti and the Maṇipūra Resolution

Devanagari script

सा गदा शकलीभूता विशीर्णमणिबन्धना । व्याली विमुच्यामानेव पपात धरणीतले,उस गदाकी मूँठ टूट गयी और उसके टुकड़े-टुकड़े हो गये। उस दशामें वह हाथसे छूटी हुई सर्पिणीके समान पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ी

Transliteration

sā gadā śakalībhūtā viśīrṇamaṇibandhanā | vyālī vimucyamāneva papāta dharaṇītale ||

Translation

ఆ గద ముక్కలైపోయి, దాని మణిబంధనాలు చెల్లాచెదురయ్యాయి. విడిచిపెట్టబడిన సర్పిణిలా అది నేలపై పడిపోయింది.

Word by Word

साshe/that (f.)

गदाmace

शकलीभूताbecome broken into pieces

विशीर्णshattered, broken apart

मणिबन्धनाhaving the handle/grip (wrist-band) (broken); lit. 'with wrist/handle as binding'

व्यालीfemale serpent

विमुच्यमानाbeing released/let go

इवlike, as if

पपातfell

धरणीतलेon the surface of the earth/ground

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

gadā (mace)

dharaṇī (earth/ground)

vyālī (she-serpent; simile)

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

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses a vivid simile to show the fragility of worldly power: even a formidable weapon can suddenly break and fall. It implicitly cautions against overreliance on force and highlights the impermanence that follows the heat of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

A mace breaks into pieces; its jeweled binding at the handle is ruined, and it slips from the hand and drops to the earth, compared to a she-serpent falling when released.