Shloka 18

Ulūpī–Citravāhinī Saṃvāda: Dhanaṃjaya-patana and Prāya-threat

Devanagari script

गृहीतं वाजिन दृष्टवा प्रीतात्मा स धनंजय: । पुत्र रथस्थं भूमिष्ठ: संन्यवारयदाहवे

Transliteration

gṛhītaṃ vājinaṃ dṛṣṭvā prītātmā sa dhanañjayaḥ | putraṃ rathasthaṃ bhūmiṣṭhaḥ saṃnyavārayad āhave ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：见祭马已被夺取，檀那ंज耶（阿周那）心中暗自欢喜。虽他本人立于地上，却在战阵之中制止了乘车在上的儿子，不许其贸然前冲。

Word by Word

• गृहीतम्: seized, captured
• गृहीतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) → गृहीत (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वाजिनम्: the horse (steed)
• वाजिनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा
• Form: Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)

• प्रीतात्मा: one whose mind was pleased
• प्रीतात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीत (कृदन्त) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धनंजयः: Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय (प्रातिपदिक, अर्जुन-नाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुत्रम्: his son
• पुत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रथस्थम्: seated/standing on the chariot
• रथस्थम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भूमिष्ठः: standing on the ground
• भूमिष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संन्यवारयत्: restrained, held back
• Type: Verb
• Root: वारय् (धातु, णिच्) with सम् + नि (उपसर्ग) → संन्यवारयत्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• आहवे: in battle
• आहवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• Arjuna's son (unnamed here)
• sacrificial horse (aśvamedha-vājin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a warrior context, discernment and restraint are virtues: Arjuna, pleased at the turn of events, still checks his son’s impulsive advance, modeling responsible leadership and measured conduct in battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Aśvamedha-related conflict, the sacrificial horse has been captured. Arjuna, standing on the ground, observes this and feels pleased, but he prevents his chariot-mounted son from rushing forward in the fight.