Shloka 27

Pradyumna–Śālva Missile-Exchange at Saubha (Āraṇyaka Parva, Adhyāya 18)

Devanagari script

उपयान्तं दुराधर्ष शडुखचक्रगदाधरम्‌ । पुरुष पुण्डरीकाक्ष॑ कि वक्ष्यामि महाभुजम्‌,“शंख, चक्र और गदा धारण करनेवाले कमलनयन महाबाहु एवं अजेय वीर भगवान्‌ पुरुषोत्तम जब यहाँ मेरे निकट पदार्पण करेंगे, उस समय मैं उन्हें क्या उत्तर दूँगा?

Transliteration

upayāntaṃ durādharṣa-śaṅkha-cakra-gadādharam | puruṣaṃ puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ kiṃ vakṣyāmi mahābhujam ||

Translation

风神伐由说道：“当那位不可战胜的主——手持海螺、神轮与钉锤，莲华眼、巨臂的至上之人——在此向我逼近时，我还能以何言答复他？”

Word by Word

• उपयान्तम्: approaching
• उपयान्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-या (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त)

• दुराधर्षम्: hard to assail, invincible
• दुराधर्षम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुराधर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम्: bearing conch, discus, and mace
• शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पुरुषम्: the Person (Lord)
• पुरुषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पुण्डरीकाक्षम्: lotus-eyed
• पुण्डरीकाक्षम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्डरीकाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• किम्: what?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)

• वक्ष्यामि: shall I say
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: Simple Future (लृट्), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• महाभुजम्: mighty-armed
• महाभुजम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva (Vāyu)
• Puruṣottama (Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa)
• Śaṅkha (conch)
• Cakra (discus)
• Gadā (mace)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights humility before divine authority: even a powerful deity like Vāyu expresses awe and moral hesitation about what is fitting to say when the Supreme Lord approaches, underscoring reverence, self-restraint, and awareness of dharma in speech.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu anticipates the imminent arrival of Puruṣottama (identified by the emblems conch, discus, and mace) and, overwhelmed by the Lord’s invincibility and majesty, wonders what response he can possibly offer when the Lord comes near.