Shloka 21

Mātali’s Arrival and Arjuna’s Ascent toward Amarāvatī (मातलिसंयुक्तरथागमनम् तथा इन्द्रलोकगमनारम्भः)

Devanagari script

मूर्थ्नि चैनमुपाप्राय देवेन्द्र: परवीरहा । अड्कमारोपयामास प्रश्रयावनतं तदा,तब शत्रुवीरोंका संहार करनेवाले देवराजने विनीतभावसे आये हुए अर्जुनका मस्तक सूँघा और उन्हें अपनी गोदमें बिठा लिया

Transliteration

mūrdhni cainam upāghrāya devendraḥ paravīrahā | aṅkam āropayāmāsa praśrayāvanataṃ tadā ||

Translation

అప్పుడు శత్రువీరసంహారకుడైన దేవేంద్రుడు వినయంగా వంగిన అర్జునుని శిరస్సును స్నేహంతో మ్రొక్కి (వాసన చూచి) తన ఒడిలో కూర్చోబెట్టాడు.

Word by Word

मूर्ध्निon (his) head

चand

एनम्him

उपाप्रायsmelled/sniffed (approachingly)

देवेन्द्रःIndra, lord of the gods

परवीरहाslayer of enemy-heroes

अङ्कम्lap

आरोपयामासmade (him) mount; placed (him) upon

प्रश्रयावनतम्bowed down with humility

तदाthen

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Devendra (Indra)

Arjuna

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True worth is recognized not only by strength but by disciplined humility: Arjuna approaches with praśraya (reverent modesty), and Indra responds with affectionate blessing, showing that power guided by respect and self-control is dharmically affirmed.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Indra, pleased with Arjuna’s respectful approach, expresses paternal affection by smelling his head (a traditional gesture of approval/blessing) and seating him on his lap, signaling acceptance and favor.