Shloka 23

अर्जुनस्य रथाश्वमोचनं कृष्णस्याश्वसेवा च

Arjuna’s Horses Freed; Krishna’s Equine Service

Devanagari script

निमित्ते दूरपातित्वे लघुत्वे दृढवेधने । मम ब्रवीतु भगवान्‌ विशेष फाल्गुनस्थ च,“दूरतक बाण चलानेमें, लक्ष्य वेधनेमें, हाथकी फुर्तीमें तथा अचूक निशाना मारनेमें मुझमें और अर्जुनमें कितना अन्तर है, यह पूज्य गुरुदेव मुझे बतावें

Transliteration

nimitte dūrapātitve laghutve dṛḍhavedhane | mama bravītu bhagavān viśeṣaṃ phālgunastha ca ||

Translation

దూరప్రహార బాణవిద్యలో, చేతి చురుకుదనంలో, అలాగే దృఢమైన అచ్యుత లక్ష్యవేధనంలో—పూజ్య గురుదేవా, నాలో మరియు ఫాల్గుణుడు (అర్జునుడు) లో ఉన్న ప్రత్యేక తేడా ఏమిటో నాకు చెప్పండి.

Word by Word

निमित्तेin the matter of / with respect to (as a criterion)

दूरपातित्वेin long-range shooting (far-casting)

लघुत्वेin lightness / agility

दृढवेधनेin firm/accurate piercing (sure hitting)

ममto me / of me

ब्रवीतुlet (him) tell / may (he) say

भगवान्the venerable one / revered lord (teacher)

विशेषम्the difference / distinction

फाल्गुनात्from Phalguna (Arjuna)

चand

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sanjaya

Arjuna (Phalguna)

Bhagavan (revered teacher/master, honorific)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the classical kṣatriya valuation of measurable competence—range, speed, and accuracy—while also showing deference to authoritative judgment (the ‘bhagavān’ as teacher). Skill is treated as a disciplined, assessable virtue within the ethics of warfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya frames a direct comparison between himself and Arjuna, asking the revered master to state the precise difference in their archery abilities—especially long-distance shooting, quickness of hand, and unerring aim—thereby underscoring Arjuna’s renowned superiority in martial prowess.