Shloka 153
Traigarta Attempt to Seize the Aśvamedha Horse; Arjuna’s Restraint and Tactical Victory
निवृत्तमेनं द्रक्ष्याम: पुनरेष्यति च ध्रुवम् । नरेन्द्र! दूसरे लोग ये बातें कहते थे--“इस भीड़में हम अर्जुनको तो नहीं देखते हैं; किंतु उनका यह धनुष दिखायी देता है। यही वह भयंकर टंकार करनेवाला विख्यात गाण्डीव धनुष है। अर्जुनकी यात्रा सकुशल हो। उन्हें मार्गमें कोई कष्ट न हो। ये निर्भय मार्गपर आगे बढ़ते रहें। ये निश्चय ही कुशलपूर्वक लौटेंगे और उस समय हम फिर इनका दर्शन करेंगे”
nivṛttam enaṁ drakṣyāmaḥ punar eṣyati ca dhruvam | narendra! pare janā etāḥ kathāḥ kathayanti sma—“asmin janasaṁghāte vayaṁ nārjunaṁ paśyāmaḥ; kintu tasya dhanuḥ pratyakṣam iva dṛśyate | eṣa eva bhīmaṭaṅkāraḥ prasiddho gāṇḍīvo dhanuḥ | arjunasya yātrā sukhaśivā bhavatu | mārgamadhye tasya kaścid upadravo mā bhūt | nirbhayaṁ panthānam agre gacchatu | sa niścayena kuśalena punar āgamiṣyati, tadā vayaṁ punar asya darśanaṁ lapsyāmaḥ”
Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: “Makikita natin siyang muli kapag siya’y nakabalik; tiyak na siya’y magbabalik.” O Hari, nagbubulungan ang mga tao: “Sa siksikang ito, hindi namin makita si Arjuna, ngunit malinaw na nakikita ang kanyang busog. Iyan ang tanyag na Gāṇḍīva, kakila-kilabot sa dagundong ng pagkakabig nito. Nawa’y maging mapalad ang paglalakbay ni Arjuna; nawa’y walang hirap na dumapo sa kanya sa daan. Magpatuloy nawa siya nang walang pangamba. Tiyak na babalik siyang ligtas, at sa panahong iyon ay muli natin siyang masisilayan.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights communal dharmic goodwill: people bless the righteous hero’s journey, pray for freedom from harm, and express confident hope in his safe return—showing how public speech can uphold courage, auspiciousness, and moral support.
As Arjuna proceeds on his mission, the crowd cannot see him directly but recognizes him by the visible, famous Gāṇḍīva bow. They comment on its fearsome twang and offer blessings that he travel safely and return, so they may see him again.