Shloka 10

धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation

Devanagari script

तान्‌ दृष्टवा पततः शीघ्रान्‌ गन्धर्वनिद्यतायुधान्‌

Transliteration

tān dṛṣṭvā patataḥ śīghrān gandharva-nidyatāyudhān

Translation

Thấy họ lao xuống thật nhanh—mang theo những vũ khí lừng danh, được tôn sùng giữa hàng Gandharva—Vaiśampāyana khắc họa khoảnh khắc ấy như một sự leo thang đột ngột và ghê gớm: tài nghệ và danh tiếng về binh khí lập tức trở thành sức ép đạo lý buộc người chứng kiến phải đáp lại bằng dũng khí và tự chế.

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• पततः: falling / flying (down)
• पततः: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शीघ्रान्: swift
• शीघ्रान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीघ्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• गन्धर्वनिद्यतायुधान्: those whose weapons are praised by the Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वनिद्यतायुधान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व-निद्यत-आयुध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Gandharvas
• weapons (āyudha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how reputation and display of force can intensify fear and urgency; ethically, it points to the need for steadiness and discernment when confronted by sudden, celebrated martial power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a group seen swooping down rapidly, equipped with weapons renowned among the Gandharvas, signaling an imminent confrontation or intervention by formidable celestial fighters.