Shloka 20

देवविमान-दर्शनम् / The Celestial Assembly and Vimana Spectacle

Bhīṣma–Arjuna Encounter Framed Cosmically

Devanagari script

वनवासे हानिर्वत्ते दर्शयेन्न धनंजय: । धनं चालभमानोजत्र नाद्य तत्‌ क्षन्तुमहति

Transliteration

vanavāse hānir vṛtte darśayen na dhanañjayaḥ | dhanaṃ cālabhamāno 'dya tad na kṣantum arhati ||

Translation

ద్రోణుడు అన్నాడు—వనవాస కాలం పూర్తికాకముందు ధనంజయుడు (అర్జునుడు) తనను తాను వెల్లడించలేడు. కానీ ఈ రోజు ఇక్కడికి వచ్చి తన ధనాన్ని (గోధనాన్ని) పొందలేకపోతే, అతడు మనలను క్షమించడు.

Word by Word

• वनवासे: in the forest-exile
• वनवासे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनवास
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• हानिः: loss
• हानिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हानि
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• वृत्ते: when completed/ended
• वृत्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत्त
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• दर्शयेत्: should show/reveal
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• धनंजयः: Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धनम्: wealth (cattle/possessions)
• धनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• अलभमानः: not obtaining
• अलभमानः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अलभमान
• Form: लभ्, शानच् (present participle, Ātmanepada), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य

• तत्: that (situation/act)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• क्षन्तुम्: to forgive/endure
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम्
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive), Parasmaipada (usage)

• अर्हति: is able/deserves
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

द्रोण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Droṇa
• Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• vanavāsa (forest exile)
• dhana (wealth/cattle)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights accountability and the ethical weight of provoking a wronged hero: once the lawful term of concealment/exile is complete, Arjuna may act openly, and if his rightful property is denied, he is not obliged to pardon the offenders.

What is happening in the narrative?

Droṇa assesses the situation during the Virāṭa episode: Arjuna could not reveal himself before the exile’s term ended, but now, if Arjuna comes seeking the seized cattle/wealth and is thwarted, the Kauravas should expect his uncompromising retaliation.