Mahabharata 3.37.23 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 37, Shloka 23

Vyāsa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira: Pratismṛti-vidyā, Arjuna’s Aśtra-Quest, and the Move to Kāmyaka

Devanagari script

त॑ तथा प्रस्थितं वीरं शालस्कन्धोरुमर्जुनम्‌

Transliteration

taṁ tathā prasthitaṁ vīraṁ śālaskandhorum arjunam

Translation

انہوں نے اس طرح روانہ ہوتے ہوئے اس بہادر ارجن کو دیکھا— جس کی رانیں شال کے مضبوط تنے کی مانند تھیں— اور جو پختہ عزم کے ساتھ اپنے مقصد کی طرف بڑھ رہا تھا۔

Word by Word

• तत्: him/that (one)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• प्रस्थितम्: set out, departed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-स्था (धातु: स्था)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वीरम्: hero, brave man
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शालस्कन्धोरुम्: having thighs like the trunk of a śāla tree
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाल-स्कन्ध-ऊरु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अर्जुनम्: Arjuna
• अर्जुनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arjuna
• śāla tree

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises steadfast resolve: when a righteous task is undertaken, one should proceed with firmness and self-control. Arjuna’s physical imagery symbolizes inner strength and unwavering commitment to duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Arjuna setting out on a journey/mission. The narration highlights his heroic bearing through a vivid epithet comparing his thighs to the solid trunk of a śāla tree.