Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 28

Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange

Chapter 55

Devanagari script

नूनं पार्थजयैषित्वाच्छक्र: सर्वामरै: सह | हन्त्यस्मानित्यमन्यन्त पार्थेन निहता: परे

Transliteration

nūnaṃ pārthajayaiṣitvāc chakraḥ sarvāmaraiḥ saha | hanty asmān ity amanyanta pārthena nihatāḥ pare ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Bị Pārtha (Arjuna) đánh gục, các chiến binh phe đối địch tưởng rằng: “Hẳn là Śakra (Indra) cùng toàn thể chư thiên đang giết chúng ta”—bởi sức mạnh khát thắng của Arjuna hiện ra trước mắt họ quá đỗi áp đảo. Đoạn này cho thấy: khi tài nghệ võ trận phi thường đứng về lẽ phải, nó được cảm nhận như sức lực của thần minh.

Word by Word

• नूनम्: surely, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नूनम्

• पार्थ: by Arjuna (son of Pritha)
• पार्थ: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• जय: victory
• जय: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एषित्वात्: because of the desire (to obtain)
• एषित्वात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: एषित्व (from desiderative stem of √इष्)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• शक्रः: Indra
• शक्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्व: with all
• सर्व: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अमरैः: with the immortals (gods)
• अमरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

• हन्ति: kills, strikes down
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अस्मान्: us
• अस्मान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Accusative, Plural

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• मन्यन्त: they thought, supposed
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन्
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Plural, Atmanepada

• पार्थेन: by Arjuna
• पार्थेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• निहताः: slain, struck down
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-√हन् (past passive participle: निहत)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• परे: the others, the enemies
• परे: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• Śakra (Indra)
• Amaras (the gods)
• the opposing warriors/enemies

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Exceptional prowess in a dharmic struggle can appear ‘divine’ to onlookers; the verse highlights how human excellence, when rightly directed, inspires awe and is interpreted as the working of higher powers.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being struck down by Arjuna’s arrows, the enemy soldiers believe that Indra himself, accompanied by the gods, must be killing them—such is the terror and magnificence of Arjuna’s onslaught.