Shloka 246

बभ्रुवाहन-धनंजययोः संग्रामः

Babhruvāhana and Dhanaṃjaya’s engagement at Maṇipūra

Devanagari script

धनंजयोउपि तां दृष्टवा धनुर्विससजे प्रभु: । वह अर्जुनके पास आकर आर्तस्वरसे फूट-फ़ूटकर रोने लगी। शक्तिशाली अर्जुनने भी उसे सामने देख अपना धनुष नीचे डाल दिया

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | dhanañjayo 'pi tāṃ dṛṣṭvā dhanur visasarje prabhuḥ |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Vừa thấy nàng trước mặt, ngay cả Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)—vị chúa tể hùng mạnh—cũng để tuột cây cung khỏi tay. Cảnh ấy cho thấy lòng trắc ẩn và sự mong manh của con người có thể chặn đứng đà bạo lực: sự sẵn sàng ra tay của chiến binh nhường chỗ, trong khoảnh khắc, cho niềm cảm thông trước nỗi đau của kẻ khác.

Word by Word

• धनंजयः: Dhananjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विससर्ज: let go/dropped/released
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-सृज्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रभुः: the lord/mighty one
• प्रभुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• bow (dhanuḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that dharma is not mere force or victory; even a great warrior must remain responsive to suffering. Compassion can rightly suspend aggression, reminding the listener that ethical action includes sensitivity to others’ pain.

What is happening in the narrative?

A grieving woman approaches (implied by context), and when Arjuna sees her, he lowers/releases his bow. The moment signals a shift from martial readiness to attentive engagement with her distress.