Shloka 3
अश्वमेधीयस्य हयस्य दक्षिणापश्चिमगमनम् — The Sacrificial Horse’s Southern and Western Circuit
Devanagari script
स तानुवाच धर्मात्मा बीभत्सुरपराजित:
Transliteration
sa tān uvāca dharmātmā bībhatsur aparājitaḥ
Translation
అప్పుడు ధర్మాత్ముడు, అపరాజితుడు బీభత్సు (అర్జునుడు) వారితో పలికెను.
Word by Word
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तान्them
तान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
उवाचsaid/spoke
उवाच:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
धर्मात्माrighteous-souled, virtuous
धर्मात्मा:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootधर्मात्मन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
बीभत्सुःBībhatsu (Arjuna)
बीभत्सुः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootबीभत्सु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अपराजितःunconquered, undefeated
अपराजितः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअपराजित
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
व
वैशम्पायन (Vaiśampāyana)ब
बीभत्सु (Bībhatsu/Arjuna)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ideal leadership and conduct: a dharmātmā (one grounded in dharma) speaks with moral authority, and aparājitaḥ (unconquered) suggests steadiness and integrity that are not overcome by fear, pressure, or unrighteous impulses.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, Arjuna (called Bībhatsu) turns to address a group (“them”), marking a transition into his counsel or instructions; the epithets emphasize his ethical disposition and unshaken strength as he speaks.