Mahabharata 3.52.48 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 52, Shloka 48
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
यस्मिंश्नैव समस्तानां प्राणा गाण्डीवधन्चनि । विना महात्मना तेन गतसत्त्व इवाभवम्
yasmiṁś caiva samastānāṁ prāṇā gāṇḍīvadhanvani | vinā mahātmanā tena gatasattva ivābhavam ||
మన అందరి ప్రాణం నిలిచిన గాండీవధారి మహాత్ముడు అర్జునుడు మన నుండి వేరైపోయాడు. ఆ మహనీయుడైన అర్జునుడు లేక నేను ప్రాణహీనుడినైపోయినట్టున్నాను.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a community’s morale and sense of security can rest upon a single dharmic, capable leader; separation from such a person produces a feeling of inner collapse, underscoring the ethical value of steadfast companionship and reliance on virtue.
The speaker laments that Arjuna—identified by his Gāṇḍīva bow and praised as mahātmā—has become separated from them; in his absence the speaker feels as though life and strength have left him.
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