Mahabharata 7.172.31–33

Nārāyaṇāstra-parva (nara-nārāyaṇa-rudra-māhātmyam) (The Glory of Nara, Nārāyaṇa, and Rudra)7.172.31–33

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Mahabharata · 7.172.31–33

॥

Devanāgarī

नैव नस् तादृशं राजन् दृष्टपूर्वं न च श्रुतम् ॥
यादृशं द्रोणपुत्रेण सृष्टम् अस्त्रम् अमर्षिणा ॥
अर्जुनस् तु महाराज ब्राह्मम् अस्त्रम् उदैरयत् ॥
सर्वास्त्रप्रतिघाताय विहितं पद्मयोनिना ॥
ततो मुहूर्ताद् इव तत् तमो व्युपशशाम ह ॥
प्रववौ चानिलः शीतो दिशश् च विमलाभवन् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

naiva nas tādṛśaṃ rājan dṛṣṭapūrvaṃ na ca śrutam ||
yādṛśaṃ droṇaputreṇa sṛṣṭam astram amarṣiṇā ||
arjunas tu mahārāja brāhmam astram udairayat ||
sarvāstrapratighātāya vihitaṃ padmayoninā ||
tato muhūrtād iva tat tamo vyupaśaśāma ha ||
pravavau cānilaḥ śīto diśaś ca vimalābhavan ||

Word-by-word

SanskritIASTMeaning

न एव नः तादृशम् राजन्na eva naḥ tādṛśam rājannever before, O king, such a thing; never before, O king, the like of this

दृष्टपूर्वम् न च श्रुतम्dṛṣṭapūrvam na ca śrutamhad we seen or heard of; had we seen or heard of

यादृशम् द्रोणपुत्रेणyādṛśam droṇaputreṇaas that which by the son of Drona; as that which by the son of Drona

सृष्टम् अस्त्रम् अमर्षिणाsṛṣṭam astram amarṣiṇāthe impatient one, unleashed as a weapon; the untamed one, sent forth as a weapon

अर्जुनः तु महाराजarjunaḥ tu mahārājaArjuna, however, O great king; Arjuna, however, O great king

ब्राह्मम् अस्त्रम् उदैरयत्brāhmam astram udairayatraised up the weapon of Brahma; invoked the weapon of Brahma

सर्वास्त्रप्रतिघातायsarvāstrapratighātāyafor the repelling of all weapons; for the repelling of all weapons

विहितम् पद्मयोनिनाvihitam padmayonināordained by Padmayoni [Brahma]; ordained by Padmayoni [Brahma]

ततः मुहूर्तात् इव तत्tataḥ muhūrtāt iva tatthen, as if in a moment, that; then, as if in an instant, that

तमः व्युपशशाम हtamaḥ vyupaśaśāma hadarkness dissolved; darkness dissolved

प्रववौ च अनिलः शीतःpravavau ca anilaḥ śītaḥand a cool wind blew; and a cool wind blew

दिशः च विमलाः अभवन्diśaḥ ca vimalāḥ abhavanand the directions became clear; and the directions grew clear

Translation

"Never before, O king, had we seen or heard the like of this -- the weapon unleashed by the impatient son of Drona." Arjuna, however, O great king, raised up the weapon of Brahma, ordained by Padmayoni [Brahma] for the repelling of all weapons. Then, as if in an instant, that darkness dissolved; and a cool wind blew, and the directions grew clear.

Commentary

Arjuna answers the fiery weapon with the weapon of Brahma, which "repels all weapons," and the darkness dissolves in an instant. It is telling that the highest weapon is not one that destroys but one that repels -- the shield surpasses the sword. The verse teaches that true power reveals itself not in attack but in defense and the restoration of order; and one who knows how to quench destruction rather than multiply it wields a strength of the highest order.

Version

9cf8040d26f8 · published Jul 19, 2026, 5:12:46 PM UTC

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