Shloka 23

Kubera-prasāda-vihāra and Counsel on Ajñātavāsa (कुबेरप्रसादविहारः तथा अज्ञातवासोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

तान्‌ दृष्टवा दशसाहस्रान्‌ मयूरसदृशान्‌ हयान्‌ । रथं च रविसंकाशं प्राद्रवन्‌ गणश: स्त्रिय:,मोरके समान सुन्दर उन दस हजार घोड़ोंको तथा सूर्यके समान तेजस्वी उस दिव्य रथको देखते ही झुंड-की-झुंड दानवस्त्रियाँ इधर-उधर भाग चलीं

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca | tān dṛṣṭvā daśasāhasrān mayūrasadṛśān hayān | rathaṃ ca ravisaṃkāśaṃ prādravan gaṇaśaḥ striyaḥ |

Translation

Arjuna nói: Vừa thấy mười ngàn con ngựa đẹp như chim công và cỗ chiến xa rực sáng như mặt trời, đám phụ nữ của loài dạ-xoa liền chạy tán loạn từng tốp về mọi phía, kinh hoàng trước vẻ uy nghi chói lọi của binh oai.

Word by Word

तान्those (them)

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

दशसाहस्रान्ten-thousand (in number)

मयूरसदृशान्resembling peacocks

हयान्horses

रथम्chariot

चand

रविसंकाशम्sun-like, resembling the sun

प्राद्रवन्ran away, fled

गणशःin groups, in troops

स्त्रियःwomen

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

ten thousand horses

chariot (sun-bright, divine)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how overwhelming power and radiance can provoke fear and disorder among onlookers; it implicitly contrasts inner steadiness with panic, suggesting that courage and composure are virtues amid sudden displays of might.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna describes a scene where, upon seeing an immense force of beautiful horses and a chariot shining like the sun, the women present scatter and flee in groups, startled by the sudden appearance and splendor.