Shloka 3

Svargārohaṇa-parva, Adhyāya 4 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Vision of the Celestial Assembly

Recognition and Explanation

Devanagari script

इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत स्वर्गायेहरणपर्वमें युधिष्ठिरका देहत्यागविषयक तीसरा अध्याय पूरा हुआ

Transliteration

vaishampāyana uvāca |

dīpyamānaṃ svavapuṣā divyair astrair upasthitam |

cakra-prabhṛtibhiḥ ghorair divyaiḥ puruṣa-vigrahaiḥ ||

Translation

毗舍摩波耶那说：他以自身天界之形的光辉而灿然照耀。其周围侍立着诸般神兵——威力可怖——以神轮为首；每一件都化作具人形的存在，仿佛在恭敬地随侍奉事。

Word by Word

• दीप्यमानम्: shining, radiant
• दीप्यमानम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप् (धातु) → दीप्यमान (वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/आत्मनेपदे कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• स्ववपुषा: with (his) own body/form
• स्ववपुषा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + वपुस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• दिव्यैः: with divine (ones)
• दिव्यैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अस्त्रैः: with weapons (missiles)
• अस्त्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• उपस्थितम्: present, standing by, attendant
• उपस्थितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + स्था (धातु) → उपस्थित (भूतकृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• चक्र: discus
• चक्र: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• प्रभृतिभिः: beginning with, etc. (along with)
• प्रभृतिभिः: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रभृति
• Form: used in the sense 'beginning with, etc.'; here with instrumental plural to mean 'along with/starting with'

• हरिः: Hari (Vishnu/Krishna)
• हरिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दिव्यैः: with divine (ones)
• दिव्यैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पुरुषविग्रहैः: with forms/bodies of persons (personified forms)
• पुरुषविग्रहैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + विग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• cakra (discus)
• divya-astra (divine weapons)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse suggests that power (even martial power) is ethically meaningful only when subordinated to dharma. The personified divine weapons standing in attendance symbolize disciplined force—authority that serves righteousness rather than ego or cruelty.

What is happening in the narrative?

A radiant, divine figure is described as being attended by celestial weapons—starting with the discus—each appearing in personified form. This imagery marks a transition into a heavenly, supra-human setting where divine order is visibly manifested.