Shloka 30

Adhyāya 61: Saṃmohana-astra and the Kuru Withdrawal (संमोहनास्त्रं तथा कुरुनिवृत्तिः)

Devanagari script

तानहं रथनीडेभ्य: शरै: संनतपर्वभि: | यत्तान्‌ सर्वानतिबलान्‌ योत्स्यमानानवस्थितान्‌ । एक: संकालयिष्यामि वज्रपाणिरिवासुरान्‌

Transliteration

tān ahaṃ rathanīḍebhyaḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ | yattān sarvān atibalān yotsyamānān avasthitān | ekaḥ saṃkālayiṣyāmi vajrapāṇir ivāsurān ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: “Từ trên chiến xa của chúng, ta sẽ bắn hạ chúng bằng những mũi tên có các khớp đã được tôi luyện rắn chắc. Dẫu tất cả đều cực kỳ hùng mạnh và đứng sẵn để giao chiến, một mình ta cũng sẽ tiêu diệt chúng—như Vajrapāṇi (Indra) cầm lôi chùy diệt sạch bọn Asura.”

Word by Word

तान्those (men)

अहम्I

रथनीडेभ्यःfrom the chariots (lit. chariot-nests/seats)

शरैःwith arrows

संनतपर्वभिःhaving well-bent joints/knots (i.e., well-made)

यत्whom/which (those who)

तान्those

सर्वान्all

अतिबलान्very strong

योत्स्यमानान्about to fight / fighting

अवस्थितान्standing firm / stationed

एकःalone

संकालयिष्यामिI shall destroy/overpower

वज्रपाणिःIndra (the one with the thunderbolt in hand)

इवlike/as

असुरान्the demons/asuras

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

ratha (chariot)

śara (arrow)

Vajrapāṇi (Indra)

vajra (thunderbolt)

Asuras

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 the kṣatriya ideal of steadfast courage and responsibility in battle: even against many powerful opponents, one should stand firm in resolve. The comparison to Indra underscores that righteous strength, disciplined skill, and unwavering determination can overcome seemingly overwhelming force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates a warrior’s bold declaration: he will strike the opposing fighters from their chariots with powerful arrows and destroy them single-handedly, likening his impending victory to Indra’s defeat of the Asuras.