Shloka 18

Ulūpī–Citravāhinī Saṃvāda: Dhanaṃjaya-patana and Prāya-threat

Devanagari script

गृहीतं वाजिन दृष्टवा प्रीतात्मा स धनंजय: । पुत्र रथस्थं भूमिष्ठ: संन्यवारयदाहवे

Transliteration

gṛhītaṃ vājinaṃ dṛṣṭvā prītātmā sa dhanañjayaḥ | putraṃ rathasthaṃ bhūmiṣṭhaḥ saṃnyavārayad āhave ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana nói: Thấy con ngựa tế lễ đã bị bắt giữ, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) thầm lấy làm vui. Dẫu chính mình đứng dưới đất, ông vẫn kiềm giữ con trai—đang ngồi trên chiến xa—không cho lao lên trong trận địa, ngăn lại ngay giữa cuộc giao tranh.

Word by Word

• गृहीतम्: seized, captured
• गृहीतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) → गृहीत (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वाजिनम्: the horse (steed)
• वाजिनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा
• Form: Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)

• प्रीतात्मा: one whose mind was pleased
• प्रीतात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीत (कृदन्त) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धनंजयः: Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय (प्रातिपदिक, अर्जुन-नाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुत्रम्: his son
• पुत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रथस्थम्: seated/standing on the chariot
• रथस्थम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भूमिष्ठः: standing on the ground
• भूमिष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संन्यवारयत्: restrained, held back
• Type: Verb
• Root: वारय् (धातु, णिच्) with सम् + नि (उपसर्ग) → संन्यवारयत्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• आहवे: in battle
• आहवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• Arjuna's son (unnamed here)
• sacrificial horse (aśvamedha-vājin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a warrior context, discernment and restraint are virtues: Arjuna, pleased at the turn of events, still checks his son’s impulsive advance, modeling responsible leadership and measured conduct in battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Aśvamedha-related conflict, the sacrificial horse has been captured. Arjuna, standing on the ground, observes this and feels pleased, but he prevents his chariot-mounted son from rushing forward in the fight.