Mahabharata · 7.53.51–52
॥
Devanāgarī
यथा हि लक्ष्म चन्द्रे वै समुद्रे च यथा जलम् ॥
एवम् एतां प्रतिज्ञां मे सत्यां विद्धि जनार्दन ॥
मावमंस्था ममास्त्राणि मावमंस्था धनुर् दृढम् ॥
मावमंस्था बलं बाह्वोर् मावमंस्था धनंजयम् ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yathā hi lakṣma candre vai samudre ca yathā jalam ||
evam etāṃ pratijñāṃ me satyāṃ viddhi janārdana ||
māvamaṃsthā mamāstrāṇi māvamaṃsthā dhanur dṛḍham ||
māvamaṃsthā balaṃ bāhvor māvamaṃsthā dhanaṃjayam ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
यथा हि लक्ष्म चन्द्रे वैyathā hi lakṣma candre vaias [surely] the mark on the moon; as the mark on the moon
समुद्रे च यथा जलम्samudre ca yathā jalamand as water in the ocean; and as water in the ocean
एवम् एताम् प्रतिज्ञाम् मेevam etām pratijñām meso this vow of mine; so this vow of mine
सत्याम् विद्धि जनार्दनsatyām viddhi janārdanaknow to be true, O Janardana; know to be true, O Janardana
मा अवमंस्थाः मम अस्त्राणिmā avamaṃsthāḥ mama astrāṇido not slight my weapons; do not belittle my weapons
मा अवमंस्थाः धनुः दृढम्mā avamaṃsthāḥ dhanuḥ dṛḍhamdo not slight [my] firm bow; do not belittle my firm bow
मा अवमंस्थाः बलम् बाह्वोःmā avamaṃsthāḥ balam bāhvoḥdo not slight the strength of [my] arms; do not belittle the strength of my arms
मा अवमंस्थाः धनंजयम्mā avamaṃsthāḥ dhanaṃjayamdo not slight Dhananjaya; do not belittle Dhananjaya
Translation
"As surely as the mark is on the moon, and as water is in the ocean, so know this vow of mine to be true, O Janardana. Do not slight my weapons, do not slight my firm bow, do not slight the strength of my arms, do not slight Dhananjaya."
Version
b86457e3a0b0 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:36:52 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Arjuna affirms the truth of his vow through comparisons to the unfailing — the mark of the moon, the water of the ocean: just as inseparable is the fulfillment of his word. The fourfold "mā avamaṃsthāḥ", "do not slight", is not insolence before the Lord but the fervor of a devotee begging his Friend to rely on him as an instrument of His will. It is telling that here too Arjuna's strength is conceived not as his own but as service to Krishna. The verse teaches the essence of devotion: the devotee craves not his own glory but that the Lord not doubt him as the one to carry out His work; his "do not slight me" means "entrust me with Your task."