Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 23

Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange

Chapter 55

Devanagari script

अस्यतो नित्यमत्यर्थ सर्वमेवातिगस्तथा । अश्रुतः श्रूयते भूतैर्धनुर्धघोष: किरीटिन:

Transliteration

asyato nityamatyarthaṁ sarvam evātigastathā | aśrutaḥ śrūyate bhūtair dhanur-dhaghoṣaḥ kirīṭinaḥ ||

Translation

వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—అతడు నిరంతరం అత్యంత వేగంతో బాణాలు విడిచినప్పుడు, కిరీటధారియైన అతని ధనుస్సు నుండి పుట్టిన అద్భుతమైన ఘోష సమస్త ప్రాణులకు వినిపించెను. అటువంటి ధ్వని ఇంతకు ముందు ఎవరూ వినలేదు; ఆ గర్జన ముందు ఇతర శబ్దాలన్నీ నిశ్శబ్దమయ్యేవి.

Word by Word

• {'asyataḥ': 'of one who is shooting

• while discharging (arrows)', 'nityam': 'always, constantly', 'atyartham': 'exceedingly, intensely, to a very great degree', 'sarvam eva': 'everything indeed

• all (sounds/phenomena) without exception', 'atigat tathā': 'was surpassed/overcome

• was outdone in that manner', 'aśrutaḥ': 'unheard before

• unprecedented', 'śrūyate': 'is heard', 'bhūtaiḥ': 'by beings/creatures

• by all living entities', 'dhanuḥ': 'bow', 'dhaghoṣaḥ': 'loud reverberation/clangorous sound

• thunderous twang', 'kirīṭinaḥ': 'of Kīrīṭin (Arjuna, ‘the diademed one’)'}

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kīrīṭin (Arjuna)
• bow (Gāṇḍīva, implied by context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the overwhelming force of exceptional capability: true mastery can eclipse ordinary measures and inspire awe in all who witness it, underscoring the Mahābhārata’s recurring theme that power carries a distinctive, unmistakable presence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Arjuna (Kīrīṭin) in action: as he releases arrows, the tremendous, unprecedented twang of his bow is heard by all beings, drowning out other sounds and signaling his formidable martial presence.