Shloka 25

Dvārakā’s Distress and the Saubha Engagement (द्वारकाव्यग्रता तथा सौभयुद्धम्)

Devanagari script

ततः शार्ज्र धनुःश्रेष्ठ करात्‌ प्रपतितं मम । मोहापन्नश्न कौन्तेय रथोपस्थ उपाविशम्‌,कुन्तीनन्दन! उनकी यह अवस्था देख धनुषोंमें श्रेष्ठ शार्ड मेरे हाथसे छूटकर गिर गया और मैं शाल्वकी मायासे मोहित-सा होकर रथके पिछले भागमें चुपचाप बैठ गया

Transliteration

tataḥ śārṅgaṃ dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ karāt prapatitaṃ mama | mohāpannaś ca kaunteya rathopasthe upāviśam ||

Translation

随即，我最上乘的神弓娑尔恩伽（Śārṅga）从我手中滑落坠地。昆蒂之子啊，我被舍尔瓦的幻力所迷，默然坐在战车后部，仿佛被震慑得失了神。

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

शार्ङ्गम्Śārṅga (Arjuna’s bow)

धनुःbow

श्रेष्ठम्best, excellent

करात्from (my) hand

प्रपतितम्fallen down

ममof me, my

मोहापन्नःhaving fallen into delusion

अस्मिI am

कौन्तेयO son of Kuntī

रथोपस्थेon the seat/platform of the chariot

उपाविशम्I sat down

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

व

वायुदेव (Vāyudeva)

क

कौन्तेय (Kaunteya)

श

शाल्व (Śalva)

श

शार्ङ्ग धनुष् (Śārṅga bow)

र

रथ (chariot)

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 how māyā (deceptive illusion) can overwhelm even powerful beings, causing loss of composure and capability. Ethically, it underscores the need for vigilance, steadiness of mind, and discernment when confronted with deception and psychological warfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva describes a moment of sudden disorientation: his famed bow Śārṅga slips from his hand, and, deluded by Śalva’s illusory power, he sits down at the back of the chariot, temporarily incapacitated and silent.