Shloka 13

वज्रदत्तेन सह अर्जुनयुद्धम्

Arjuna’s engagement with Vajradatta during the Aśvamedha circuit

Devanagari script

वज्रदत्तस्तत: क्रुद्धो मुमोचाशु धनंजये । तोमरानग्निसंकाशान्‌ शलभानिव वेगितान्‌

Transliteration

vajradattas tataḥ kruddho mumocāśu dhanaṃjaye | tomarān agnisaṃkāśān śalabhān iva vegitān ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：于是金刚达多怒不可遏，立刻向阿周那掷出炽烈的投枪，光焰如火，在空中疾射，宛如飞蛾迅掠。

Word by Word

• वज्रदत्तः: Vajradata (proper name)
• वज्रदत्तः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्रदत्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मुमोच: released/shot
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• आशु: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु

• धनंजये: upon Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तोमरान्: javelins/spears
• तोमरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोमर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अग्नि-संकाशान्: fire-like, resembling fire
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि-संकाश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शलभान्: moths/locusts (as a simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शलभ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• वेगितान्: swift, impetuous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेगित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Vajradatta
• Dhanaṃjaya (Arjuna)
• tomara (javelin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how anger (krodha) can intensify violence and precipitate reckless aggression; in the dharmic frame of epic warfare, the ideal warrior is tested by maintaining steadiness and discernment even when confronted with fiery, fear-inducing attacks.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vajradatta, enraged, launches a rapid volley of blazing javelins at Arjuna (Dhanaṃjaya). Their speed and fiery appearance are compared to moths darting toward flame, emphasizing the ferocity and momentum of the assault.