Shloka 21

अर्जुन–उलूपीसंवादः

Arjuna and Ulūpī: Explanation of Śānti and the Maṇipūra Resolution

Devanagari script

सा गदा शकलीभूता विशीर्णमणिबन्धना । व्याली विमुच्यामानेव पपात धरणीतले,उस गदाकी मूँठ टूट गयी और उसके टुकड़े-टुकड़े हो गये। उस दशामें वह हाथसे छूटी हुई सर्पिणीके समान पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ी

Transliteration

sā gadā śakalībhūtā viśīrṇamaṇibandhanā | vyālī vimucyamāneva papāta dharaṇītale ||

Translation

وہ گدا ٹکڑے ٹکڑے ہو گئی، اس کے جواہراتی بندھن بھی ٹوٹ پھوٹ گئے۔ یوں وہ ہاتھ سے چھوٹ کر زمین پر گر پڑی جیسے چھوڑ دی گئی سانپنی۔

Word by Word

साshe/that (f.)

गदाmace

शकलीभूताbecome broken into pieces

विशीर्णshattered, broken apart

मणिबन्धनाhaving the handle/grip (wrist-band) (broken); lit. 'with wrist/handle as binding'

व्यालीfemale serpent

विमुच्यमानाbeing released/let go

इवlike, as if

पपातfell

धरणीतलेon the surface of the earth/ground

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

gadā (mace)

dharaṇī (earth/ground)

vyālī (she-serpent; simile)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses a vivid simile to show the fragility of worldly power: even a formidable weapon can suddenly break and fall. It implicitly cautions against overreliance on force and highlights the impermanence that follows the heat of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

A mace breaks into pieces; its jeweled binding at the handle is ruined, and it slips from the hand and drops to the earth, compared to a she-serpent falling when released.