Shloka 4

और्वोपाख्यानम्

Aurva Episode: Restoration of Sight and Restraint of World-Destructive Anger

Devanagari script

उल्मुकं तु समुद्यम्य तेषामग्रे धनंजय: । प्रकाशार्थ ययौ तत्र रक्षार्थ च महारथ:,उस समय उनके आगे-आगे महारथी अर्जुन उजाला तथा रक्षा करनेके लिये जलती हुई मशाल उठाये चल रहे थे

Transliteration

ulmukaṃ tu samudyamya teṣām agre dhanaṃjayaḥ | prakāśārthaṃ yayau tatra rakṣārthaṃ ca mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

ครั้นนั้น ธนัญชัย (อรชุน) มหารถี ได้ยกคบเพลิงที่ลุกโชติช่วงเดินนำหน้า เพื่อให้แสงสว่างแก่ทางและเพื่อคุ้มกันป้องกันพวกเขา

Word by Word

• उल्मुकम्: a torch/brand
• उल्मुकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उल्मुक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• समुद्यम्य: having lifted/raising up
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-यम्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• अग्रे: in front
• अग्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• प्रकाशार्थम्: for illumination
• प्रकाशार्थम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकाशार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ययौ: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• रक्षार्थम्: for protection
• रक्षार्थम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• महारथः: the great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhanaṃjaya (Arjuna)
• ulmuka (torch/firebrand)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma as protective leadership: the worthy leader goes first, bringing clarity (light) and safety (protection) to others, especially in uncertain or risky situations.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna, described as a mahāratha, walks ahead of the group holding a burning torch, serving two practical purposes—illumination of the path and guarding the others from danger.