Shloka 39

वसुदेव–अर्जुन संवादः

Vasudeva–Arjuna Dialogue in the Aftermath of Dvārakā

Devanagari script

बहूनि च सहस्राणि प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च । भोजवृष्ण्यन्धकस्त्रीणां हतनाथानि निर्ययु:,भोज, वृष्णि और अन्धक कुलकी अनाथ स्त्रियोंकी संख्या कई हजारों, लाखों और अर्वुदोंतक पहुँच गयी थी। वे सब द्वारकापुरीसे बाहर निकलीं। वृष्णियोंका वह महान्‌ समृद्धिशाली मण्डल महासागरके समान जान पड़ता था। शत्रुनगरीपर विजय पानेवाले रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुन उसे अपने साथ लेकर चले

Transliteration

bahūni ca sahasrāṇi prayutāny arbudāni ca | bhojavṛṣṇyandhakastrīṇāṃ hatanāthāni niryayuḥ |

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：婆阇族、弗利什尼族与安陀迦族的妇女，今皆失其依怙，从兜罗迦涌出；其数以千计，以万计，乃至亿万。那曾经富盛的弗利什尼营众，浩浩荡荡，宛如大海。阿周那——车战勇士之冠、攻城拔寨的胜者——启程将她们纳入庇护之下：这是宗族倾覆之后仍存的沉重道义，权势与荣华既崩，唯有守护弱者为先。

Word by Word

बहूनिmany

चand

सहस्राणिthousands

प्रयुतानिten-thousands (myriads)

अर्बुदानिarbuda-units (very large numbers)

चand

भोजवृष्ण्यन्धकस्त्रीणाम्of the women of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis, and Andhakas

हतनाथानिwhose protectors were slain; bereft of lords

निर्ययुःwent out; departed

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhojas

Vṛṣṇis

Andhakas

women of the Bhoja-Vṛṣṇi-Andhaka clans

Dvārakā

Arjuna

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 post-catastrophe dharma: when a community collapses, ethical responsibility shifts to protecting those left defenseless—especially widows and dependents. Heroism is shown not only in conquest but in guardianship and compassionate duty amid ruin.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the destruction of the Yādava clans, vast numbers of Bhoja, Vṛṣṇi, and Andhaka women—now without protectors—leave Dvārakā. Arjuna, renowned as a great chariot-warrior, takes them along under his protection as they depart the doomed city.