Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 28

Kṛṣṇasya Dvārakā-praveśaḥ — Krishna’s Return to Dvārakā and the Raivataka Festival

Devanagari script

अहानि त्रिंशदव्यग्र: पठच चान्यानि भारत । क्रोधामर्षाभिसंतप्तस्तदा ब्राह्णसत्तम:

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

ahāni triṃśad avyagraḥ khanat cānyāni bhārata |

krodhāmarṣābhisaṃtaptaḥ tadā brāhmaṇasattamaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Hỡi Bhārata, bấy giờ Uttaṅka, bậc tối thượng trong hàng Bà-la-môn, bừng cháy vì giận dữ và vì lòng tự trọng bị tổn thương, vẫn không hề xao lãng mà cứ đào bới liên tiếp suốt ba mươi ngày và hơn nữa. Đoạn này cho thấy cảm xúc mãnh liệt có thể thúc đẩy nỗ lực bền bỉ, nhưng cũng gợi lên thế giằng co đạo lý giữa sự kiên định và việc để cơn thịnh nộ cai trị.

Word by Word

• अहानि: days (for a duration)
• अहानि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• त्रिंशत्: thirty
• त्रिंशत्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिंशत्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अव्यग्रः: unagitated, undistracted
• अव्यग्रः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यग्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च
• Form: Indeclinable (numeral), —, —

• चान्यानि: and other (days)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च + अन्य
• Form: —, —, —

• भारत: O Bhārata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• क्रोध: with anger
• क्रोध: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अमर्ष: with indignation
• अमर्ष: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर्ष
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अभिसंतप्तः: heated/tormented (by)
• अभिसंतप्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-सम्-तप्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा
• Form: —, —, —

• ब्राह्मणसत्तमः: the best of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणसत्तमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण + सत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhārata (Janamejaya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights unwavering focus (avyagra) and perseverance, while also warning implicitly that such determination can be fueled by krodha and amarṣa—emotions that, if unchecked, can distort dharmic judgment even when one is capable and disciplined.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that a foremost Brāhmaṇa, burning with anger and resentment, continues the act of digging without distraction for thirty days and beyond—describing sustained, intense effort driven by a strong emotional impetus.