Shloka 36

Vṛddha-kanyā-carita and Balarāma’s Kurukṣetra Inquiry (वृद्धकन्या-चरितम् / कुरुक्षेत्रफल-प्रश्नः)

Devanagari script

अथ काले व्यतिक्रान्ते महत्यतिभयंकरे

Transliteration

atha kāle vyatikrānte mahātyatibhayaṃkare

Translation

At nang lumipas na ang panahong iyon—isang oras ng napakalaki at di-karaniwang sindak—ang salaysay ay lumihis sa mga sumunod na pangyayari, matapos dumaan ang tugatog ng pangamba.

Word by Word

• अथ: then, now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• काले: in/at the time
• काले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• व्यतिक्रान्ते: having passed/elapsed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+अति+क्रम्
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Locative, Singular

• महति: in a great (state/occasion)
• महति: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अतिभयंकरे: in (something) extremely terrifying
• अतिभयंकरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति-भयङ्कर
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the Mahābhārata’s ethical realism: even the most terrifying crises are bounded by time. Recognizing that dreadful phases pass encourages steadiness (dhairya) and clear judgment rather than panic-driven action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana marks a transition: a particularly dreadful period in the battle narrative has elapsed, and the story is about to describe the subsequent developments after that peak of fear.