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Shloka 29

Puruṣottama-yoga

The Discipline of the Supreme Person) — Chapter 15 (Bhagavadgītā

२८ ।। यथा प्रदीप्तं ज्वलनं पतड्रा विशन्ति नाशाय समृद्धवेगा: । तथैव नाशाय विशन्ति लोका- स्तवापि वक्‍त्राणि समृद्धवेगा:,जैसे पतंग मोहवश नष्ट होनेके लिये प्रज्वलित अग्निमें अतिवेगसे दौड़ते हुए प्रवेश करते हैं, वैसे ही ये सब लोग भी अपने नाशके लिये आपके मुखोंमें अतिवेगसे दौड़ते हुए प्रवेश कर रहे हैं?

arjuna uvāca | yathā pradīptaṁ jvalanaṁ pataṅgā viśanti nāśāya samṛddha-vegāḥ | tathaiva nāśāya viśanti lokās tavāpi vaktrāṇi samṛddha-vegāḥ ||

అర్జునుడు పలికెను— ఎలా అయితే పతంగాలు మోహవశమై నాశనార్థం మండుచున్న అగ్నిలో మహావేగముతో ప్రవేశించునో, అలాగే ఈ సమస్త జనులు కూడా తమ నాశనార్థమే నీ ముఖములలోనికి మహావేగముతో దూసుకుపోయి ప్రవేశించుచున్నారు.

यथाjust as
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
प्रदीप्तम्blazing, kindled
प्रदीप्तम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रदीप्त
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
ज्वलनम्fire
ज्वलनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootज्वलन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
पतङ्गाःmoths
पतङ्गाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपतङ्ग
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
विशन्तिenter
विशन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootविश्
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
नाशायfor destruction
नाशाय:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootनाश
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
समृद्धवेगाःwith great speed
समृद्धवेगाः:
TypeAdjective
Rootसमृद्ध-वेग
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तथाso, likewise
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
एवindeed, just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
नाशायfor destruction
नाशाय:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootनाश
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
विशन्तिenter
विशन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootविश्
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
लोकाःpeople, beings
लोकाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootलोक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तवof you, your
तव:
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormGenitive, Singular
अपिalso, even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
वक्त्राणिmouths, faces
वक्त्राणि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवक्त्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
समृद्धवेगाःwith great speed
समृद्धवेगाः:
TypeAdjective
Rootसमृद्ध-वेग
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

अजुन उवाच

A
Arjuna
K
Krishna (as the cosmic form, implied by 'Your mouths')
F
fire (jvalana)
M
moths (pataṅga)

Educational Q&A

Arjuna recognizes the irresistible momentum of destruction within the cosmic order: beings, like moths to flame, are drawn into ruin by delusion and destiny. The verse underscores the awe-inspiring sovereignty of the divine (and of Time) over life and death, challenging the listener to see war’s outcomes as part of a larger moral-cosmic framework rather than merely personal choice or hatred.

During the vision of Krishna’s universal form, Arjuna sees warriors and multitudes streaming into the Lord’s many mouths. He compares their movement to moths rushing into a blazing fire, conveying both the speed and inevitability of their destruction as the battle’s fate unfolds.