Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

तथा वज्ञेण भगवानमर्षाकुललोचन: । तमापततन्तं दृष्टवैव च्यवनस्तपसान्वित:

Transliteration

tathā vajreṇa bhagavānamarṣākulalocanaḥ | tam āpatatantaṃ dṛṣṭvaiva cyavanas tapasānvitāḥ ||

Translation

于是，那位圣者双目因忿怒而赤红，挥动金刚雷霆（vajra）击下。见其挟势俯冲而来，持苦行之力而坚固的遮婆那（Cyavana）挺身而立，准备迎击这迫近的攻势。

Word by Word

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

• वज्रेण: with a thunderbolt
• वज्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• अमर्षाकुललोचनः: whose eyes were agitated with anger
• अमर्षाकुललोचनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमर्षाकुललोचन
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• आपतन्तम्: falling upon / rushing at (him)
• आपतन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: आपत्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), masculine, accusative, singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• च्यवनः: Cyavana (the sage)
• च्यवनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: च्यवन
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• तपसा: with austerity, by penance
• तपसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• अन्वितः: endowed (with), possessed of
• अन्वितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित
• Form: क्त (past passive participle used adjectivally), masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

च्यवन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Cyavana
• Indra
• Vajra (thunderbolt)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension between divine force and ascetic merit: anger-driven power (vajra) confronts disciplined spiritual power (tapas), implying that self-mastery and righteousness can stand firm even against overwhelming might.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra, enraged, attacks with his thunderbolt; Cyavana sees the onrushing assault and, supported by his ascetic potency, prepares to face it rather than yield.