Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

सम्प्रीयमाण: पार्थानामृषभ: पुत्रविक्रमात्‌ । नात्यर्थ पीडयामास पुत्र वज्रधरात्मज:

Transliteration

samprīyamāṇaḥ pārthānām ṛṣabhaḥ putravikramāt | nātyarthaṃ pīḍayāmāsa putraṃ vajradharātmajaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩耶那说道：阿周那，般陀族中的雄牛，亦是执金刚杵者因陀罗之子，见儿子英勇无比，心中大悦；因此并未过分逼迫或惩治那少年。此段彰显父亲的克制与分寸：赞许勇武，却以适度的训诫调和，而非严酷相加。

Word by Word

• सम्प्रीयमाणः: being pleased, rejoicing
• सम्प्रीयमाणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√प्री (प्रीयते)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पार्थानाम्: of the sons of Pṛthā (Pāṇḍavas)
• पार्थानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• ऋषभः: the best, the bull (chief)
• ऋषभः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुत्रविक्रमात्: from/at (because of) the son's prowess
• पुत्रविक्रमात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र-विक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अत्यर्थम्: excessively, too much
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यर्थ

• पीडयामास: tormented, pained
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पीड्
• Form: Perfect (periphrastic), 3rd, Singular

• पुत्रम्: the son
• पुत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वज्रधरात्मजः: the son of the wielder of the thunderbolt (Arjuna, son of Indra)
• वज्रधरात्मजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्रधर-आत्मज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arjuna
• Pārthas (Pāṇḍavas)
• Indra (Vajradhara)
• Arjuna’s son (unnamed in this verse)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when a child shows great prowess, a righteous guardian balances praise with restraint: discipline should not become excessive or cruel. Approval of valor is guided by dharma—measured correction rather than harsh punishment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Arjuna’s reaction to his son’s bravery. Delighted by the boy’s heroic conduct, Arjuna refrains from putting him under severe pressure or punishment.