Shloka 8

Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 130: Kuntī’s Instruction on Rājadharma and Daṇḍanīti

Devanagari script

प्रादुरास्तां तथा दोर्भ्या संकर्षणधनंजयौ । दक्षिणे5थार्जुनो धन्‍वी हली रामश्न॒ सव्यत:

Transliteration

prādurāstāṃ tathā dorbhyāṃ saṅkarṣaṇadhanañjayau | dakṣiṇe 'thārjuno dhanvī halī rāmaś ca savyataḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana nói: Từ hai cánh tay của Ngài hiện ra Saṅkarṣaṇa (Balarāma) và Dhanañjaya (Arjuna). Bên phải là Arjuna, dũng sĩ mang cung; bên trái là Rāma (Balarāma), người cầm lưỡi cày. Cảnh ấy nêu bật sức mạnh chính nghĩa: quyền năng được đặt trong kỷ luật và trật tự, khi những bậc hộ pháp tối thượng hiện thân làm chỗ nương của dharma giữa cơn khủng hoảng chính trị và đạo lý.

Word by Word

• प्रादुर्: manifest, forth
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रादुस्

• आस्ताम्: were/appeared (let them be)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), 3rd, dual, परस्मैपदम्

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

• दोर्भ्याम्: by (the two) arms
• दोर्भ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोर्
• Form: feminine, instrumental, dual

• संकर्षण-धनंजयौ: Sankarshana and Dhananjaya (Balarama and Arjuna)
• संकर्षण-धनंजयौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संकर्षण; धनंजय
• Form: masculine, nominative, dual

• दक्षिणे: in the right (arm/side)
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण
• Form: feminine, locative, singular

• अथ: then, and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• धन्वी: bow-bearing, archer
• धन्वी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्विन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• हली: plough-bearing
• हली: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हलिन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• रामः: Rama (Balarama)
• रामः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• सव्यतः: from/on the left side
• सव्यतः: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सव्य
• Form: neuter, ablative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Saṅkarṣaṇa (Balarāma)
• Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• Arjuna
• Rāma (Balarāma)
• bow (dhanus)
• plough (hala)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents righteous power as structured and purposeful: the foremost defenders of dharma appear in an ordered way (right/left), suggesting that strength should serve moral order and protection rather than mere domination.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates a wondrous manifestation in which Balarāma (Saṅkarṣaṇa), the plough-bearer, and Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), the bowman, appear from the two arms—Arjuna on the right and Balarāma on the left—highlighting their roles as principal supports in the unfolding conflict.