Mahabharata 3.172.4 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 172, Shloka 4

Divyāstrāṇāṃ Pradarśana-nivāraṇa

Display of Divine Weapons and Its Prohibition

Devanagari script

ततो<श्मवर्षे विहते जलवर्ष महत्तरम्‌ । धाराभिरक्षमात्राभि: प्रादुरासीन्‍्ममान्तिके

Transliteration

tato ’śmavarṣe vihate jalavarṣa mahattaram | dhārābhir akṣamātrābhiḥ prādurāsīn mamāntike ||

Translation

ครั้นเมื่อห่าหินถูกสกัดลงด้วยศรของข้า ก็เกิดห่าฝนอันใหญ่ยิ่งกว่านั้นบังเกิดขึ้น ใกล้ตัวข้า สายน้ำหนาทึบเท่าเพลาล้อก็เทกระหน่ำลงมาโดยพลัน

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)

• अश्मवर्षे: when the stone-shower (hail of stones) [was]
• अश्मवर्षे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्मवर्ष (अश्मन् + वर्ष)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• विहते: having been struck down / stopped
• विहते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-हन् (धातु) → विहत (क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• जलवर्षम्: a rain-shower (downpour of water)
• जलवर्षम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलवर्ष (जल + वर्ष)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• महत्तरम्: greater, more intense
• महत्तरम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्तर (महन्-तरा, तुलनात्मक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• धाराभिः: with streams (in streams)
• धाराभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• अक्षमात्राभिः: of the measure/thickness of an axle (axle-thick)
• अक्षमात्राभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षमात्र (अक्ष + मात्रा)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• प्रादुरासीत्: appeared, arose, began
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रादुर् + अस् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

• मम: of me, my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• अन्तिके: near, in the vicinity
• अन्तिके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तिक
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• stone-shower (aśmavarṣa)
• water-downpour (jalavarṣa)
• torrents/streams (dhārāḥ)
• axle (akṣa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness under escalating trials: when one obstacle is overcome, another may arise, and the ethical ideal is to remain composed and resolute rather than yielding to fear or confusion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna reports that after he neutralizes a barrage of stones, an even stronger deluge begins; thick, forceful streams of water suddenly fall close to him, intensifying the challenge he faces.