Mahabharata · 1.215.14–15
॥
Devanāgarī
धनुर् मे नास्ति भगवन् बाहुवीर्येण संमितम् ॥
कुर्वतः समरे यत्नं वेगं यद् विषहेत मे ॥
शरैश् च मे ऽर्थो बहुभिर् अक्षयैः क्षिप्रम् अस्यतः ॥
न हि वोढुं रथः शक्तः शरान् मम यथेप्सितान् ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dhanur me nāsti bhagavan bāhuvīryeṇa saṃmitam ||
kurvataḥ samare yatnaṃ vegaṃ yad viṣaheta me ||
śaraiś ca me 'rtho bahubhir akṣayaiḥ kṣipram asyataḥ ||
na hi voḍhuṃ rathaḥ śaktaḥ śarān mama yathepsitān ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
धनुः मे न अस्ति भगवन् बाहुवीर्येण संमितम्dhanuḥ me na asti bhagavan bāhuvīryeṇa saṃmitam[but] I have no bow, O lord, equal to the strength of my arms,
कुर्वतः समरे यत्नं वेगं यत् विषहेत मेkurvataḥ samare yatnaṃ vegaṃ yat viṣaheta mewhich would withstand my force when I strive in battle;
शरैः च मे अर्थः बहुभिः अक्षयैः क्षिप्रम् अस्यतःśaraiḥ ca me arthaḥ bahubhiḥ akṣayaiḥ kṣipram asyataḥand I need many inexhaustible arrows, [for] I shoot quickly;
न हि वोढुं रथः शक्तः शरान् मम यथेप्सितान्na hi voḍhuṃ rathaḥ śaktaḥ śarān mama yathepsitānfor no chariot is able to hold as many arrows of mine as I desire;
धनुर्dhanuroriginal form "dhanur", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
नास्तिnāstioriginal form "nāsti", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
यद्yadoriginal form "yad", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
शरैश्śaraiśoriginal form "śaraiś", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
ऽर्थो'rthooriginal form "'rtho", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
बहुभिर्bahubhiroriginal form "bahubhir", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
"But I have no bow, O lord, equal to the strength of my arms, which would withstand my force when I strive in battle; and I need many inexhaustible arrows, for I shoot swiftly; for no chariot can hold as many arrows of mine as I desire."
Version
11974530ad8c · published Jul 12, 2026, 6:11:48 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here the hero's own strength demands an instrument equal to it. It is significant that an ordinary bow and chariot cannot withstand Arjuna's strength: great valor requires great weapons as well. A divine task requires divine means as well. The scripture shows here Arjuna's greatness; and his need will call forth Agni's wondrous gifts.