Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 23

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 33 — Kuru Cattle-Raid and Matsya Mobilization (भूमिंजय-प्रेरणा)

Devanagari script

तदेवायुधमादाय मोक्षयाशु महीपतिम्‌ । यमौ च चक्ररक्षौ ते भवितारो महाबलौ

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

tad evāyudham ādāya mokṣayāśu mahīpatim |

yamau ca cakrarakṣau te bhavitārau mahābalau |

gṛhītvā tu dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṃ javena sumahājavaḥ |

vyamuñcac charavarṣāṇi satoya iva toyadaḥ |

Translation

అదే ఆయుధాన్ని తీసుకొని రాజును శీఘ్రంగా విముక్తం చేయి; ఆ మహాబలులు యమజులు నీ రథచక్రాలకు రక్షకులై నిలుస్తారు. అప్పుడు మహావేగశాలి భీమసేనుడు క్షణంలో శ్రేష్ఠ ధనుస్సును పట్టుకొని, జలభరిత మేఘంలా బాణవర్షాన్ని విడిచెను.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• आयुधम्: weapon
• आयुधम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुध
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा
• Form: Lyap (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• मोक्षय: release/set free
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच्
• Form: Lot (imperative), Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• आशु: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु

• महीपतिम्: the king (lord of the earth)
• महीपतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यमौ: the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva)
• यमौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• चक्ररक्षौ: wheel-guards/protectors of the chariot-wheel
• चक्ररक्षौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्ररक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• ते: those (two)
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• भवितारौ: will be (the ones who will become)
• भवितारौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवितृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• महाबलौ: very strong
• महाबलौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह्
• Form: Ktvā (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• तु: but/then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रेष्ठम्: excellent/best
• श्रेष्ठम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• जवेन: with speed
• जवेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सुमहाजवः: of very great speed
• सुमहाजवः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमहाजव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• व्यमुञ्चत्: released/shot forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-मुच्
• Form: Lan (imperfect), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शरवर्षाणि: showers of arrows
• शरवर्षाणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरवर्ष
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• सतोयः: having water (rain-laden)
• सतोयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सतोय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like/as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• तोयदः: cloud (water-giver)
• तोयदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोयद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• mahīpati (king)
• Yamau (Nakula and Sahadeva)
• cakrarakṣa (chariot-wheel guards)
• dhanuḥ (bow)
• āyudha (weapon)
• śara (arrows)
• toyada (cloud)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores dharmic conduct in crisis: prompt, decisive action carried out under legitimate instruction, aimed at protecting the rightful ruler and fulfilling one’s assigned role (including the twins’ duty as chariot-wheel guards).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that, following the command to rescue the king, the warrior swiftly takes up an excellent bow and unleashes a dense volley of arrows, compared to a rain-cloud pouring water; the twins are indicated as strong protectors of the chariot-wheels.