Laurel · Vyasa · The Mahabharata (condensed)

The Disguised Arjun

Vyasa (about 400 BC), translated by Romesh Chunder Dutt · 1899

trochaic octameter · rhyming couplets · 56 lines · from The Mahabharata (condensed)

Hushed the merry sound of laughter, hushed each suitor in his shame,Arjun, godlike son of Pritha, from the ranks of Brahmans came,

Guised as priest serene and holy, fair as INDRA'S rainbow bright,All the Brahmans shook their deerskins, cheered him in their hearts'delight!

Some there were with sad misgivings heard the sound of joyous cheerAnd their minds were strangely anxious, whispered murmurs spake their fear:

"Wondrous bow which Sisupala, mighty Salya could not strain,Jarasandha famed for prowess strove to bend the string in vain,

Can a Brahman weak by nature, and in warlike arms untrained,Wield the bow which crowned monarchs, long-armed chieftains havenot strained?

Sure the Brahman boy in folly dares a foolish thoughtless deed,Shame amidst this throng of monarchs, shall it be the Brahman's meed?

Youth in youthful pride or madness will a foolish emprise dare,Sager men should stop his rashness and the Brahman's honour spare!"

"Shame he will not bring unto us," other Brahmans made reply,"Rather, in this throng of monarchs, rich renown and honour high,

Like a tusker strong and stately, like Himalay's towering crest,Stands unmoved the youthful Brahman, ample-shouldered, deep in chest,

Lion-like his gait is agile, and determined is his air,Trust me he can do an emprise who hath lofty will to dare!

He will do the feat of valour, will not bring disgrace and stain,Nor is task in all this wide earth which a Brahman tries in vain,

Holy men subsist on wild fruits, in the strength of penance strong,Spare in form, in spirit mightier than the mightiest warlike throng!

Ask not if 'tis right or foolish when a Brahman tries his fate,If it leads to woe or glory, fatal fall or fortune great,

Son of rishi Jamadagni baffled kings and chieftains high,And Agastya stainless rishi drained the boundless ocean dry,

Let this young and daring Brahman undertake the warlike deed,Let him try and by his prowess win the victor's noble meed!"

While the Brahmans deep revolving hopes and timid fears expressed,By the bow the youthful Arjun stood unmoved like mountain crest,

Silent round the wondrous weapon thrice the mighty warrior went,To the Lord of Gods, ISANA, in a silent prayer he bent!

Then the bow which gathered warriors vainly tried to bend and strain,And the monarchs of the wide earth sought to string and wield in vain,

Godlike Arjun born of INDRA, filled with VISHNU'S matchless might,Bent the wondrous bow of Drupad, fixed the shining darts aright,

Through the disc the shining arrows fly with strange and hissing sound,Hit and pierce the distant target, bring it thundering on the ground!

Shouts of joy and loud applauses did the mighty feat declare,Heavenly blossoms soft descended, heavenly music thrilled the air,

And the Brahmans shook their deerskins, but each irritated chiefIn a lowly muttered whisper spake his rising rage and grief,

Sankha's note and voice of trumpet Arjun's glorious deed prolong,Bards and heralds chant his praises in a proud and deathless song!

Drupad in the Brahman's mantle knew the hero proud and brave,'Gainst the rage of baffled suitors sought the gallant prince to save,

With his twin-born youngest brothers left Yudhishthir, peaceful, good,Bhima marked the gathering tempest and by gallant Arjun stood!

Like a queen the beauteous maiden smiled upon the archer brave,Flung on him the bridal garland and the bridal robe she gave,

Arjun by his skill and prowess won Panchala's princess-bride,People's shouts and Brahmans' blessings sounded joyful far and wide!

Words in this poem 25

suitor n.: One who sues, petitions, or entreats; a petitioner; an applicant.
shook v. t.: To pack, as staves, in a shook.
strangely adv.: As something foreign, or not one's own; in a manner adapted to something foreign and strange.
wondrous adv.: In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully. [OE. wonders, adv. (later also adj.). See Wonder, n., and cf. -wards.]
prowess n.: Distinguished bravery; valor; especially, military bravery and skill; gallantry; intrepidity; fearlessness. Chaucer. Sir P. Sidney. [OF. proece, proesce, F. prouesse. See Prow, a.]
wield v. t.: To govern; to rule; to keep, or have in charge; also, to possess. [OE. welden to govern, to have power over, to possess, AS. geweldan, gewyldan, from wealdan; akin to OS. waldan, OFries. walda, G. walten, OHG. waltan, Icel. val]
amidst prep.: In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle. The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the genitive; the t is a la]
shall v. i.: To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
meed v. t.: To reward; to repay. Waytt.
emprise n.: An enterprise; endeavor; adventure. [OF. emprise, fr. emprendre to undertake; pref. em- (L. in) + F. prendre to take, L. prehendere, prendere; prae before + a verb akin to E. get. See Get, and cf. ]
rashness n.: The quality of state of being rash.
honour n.: Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor, onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor, honos.]
tusker n.: An elephant having large tusks.
towering a.: Very high; elevated; rising aloft; as, a towering height.
unmoved a.: Not moved; fixed; firm; unshaken; calm; apathetic.
subsist v. i.: To be; to have existence; to inhere. [L. subsistere to stand still, stay, remain alive; sub under + sistere to stand, to cause to stand, from stare to stand: cf. F. subsister. See Stand.]
stainless a.: Free from stain; immaculate.
went n.: Course; way; path; journey; direction.
aright adv.: Rightly; correctly; in a right way or form; without mistake or crime; as, to worship God aright. [Pref. a- + right.]
disc n.: A flat round plate; (Biol.) [See Disk, Dish.]
thundering a.: Emitting thunder.
glorious a.: Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds. [OF. glorios, glorious, F. glorieux, fr. L. gloriosus. See Glory, n.]
deathless a.: Not subject to death, destruction, or extinction; immortal; undying; imperishable; as, deathless beings; deathless fame.
beauteous a.: Full of beauty; beautiful; very handsome. [Mostly poetic] -- Beau"te*ous*ly, adv. --
princess n.: A female prince; a woman having sovereign power, or the rank of a prince. [F. princesse. See Prince, and cf. Princesse.]

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

The Disguised Arjun is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Mahabharata (condensed), Project Gutenberg ebook #19630, the Romesh Chunder Dutt translation; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: Vyasa, The Disguised Arjun, in The Mahabharata (condensed) (1899), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #19630, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/mahabharata/the-disguised-arjun.html, id L15768.

Form and metre

The Disguised Arjun is 56 lines in 27 verse paragraphs. It is in rhyming couplets, 89% of the lines. The metre is trochaic octameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 90%). 97% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 14.5 syllables. 5% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end.

See other poems in rhyming couplets, other poems in trochaic octameter.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

1 AA shame^A · came^A
2 A-A bright^A · hearts · delight^A
3 AA cheer^A · fear^A
4 AA strain^A · vain^A
5 A-A untrained^A · have · strained^A
6 AA deed^A · meed^A
7 AA dare^A · spare^A
8 AA reply^A · high^A
9 AA crest^A · chest^A
10 AA air^A · dare^A
11 AA stain^A · vain^A
12 AA strong^A · throng^A
13 AA fate^A · great^A
14 AA high^A · dry^A
15 AA deed^A · meed^A
16 AA expressed^A · crest^A
17 AA went^A · bent^A
18 AA strain^A · vain^A
19 AA might^A · aright^A
20 AA sound^A · ground^A
21 AA declare^A · air^A
22 AA chief^A · grief^A
23 AA prolong^A · song^A
24 AA brave^A · save^A
25 AA good^A · stood^A
26 AA brave^A · gave^A
27 AA bride^A · wide^A

Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against trochaic octameter. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
Hushed the merry sound of laughter, hushed each suitor in his shame,	15	··/˘··/˘··/˘···
Arjun, godlike son of Pritha, from the ranks of Brahmans came,	15	··/˘···········
Guised as priest serene and holy, fair as INDRA'S rainbow bright,	15	···˘/·/˘····/··
All the Brahmans shook their deerskins, cheered him in their hearts'	14	······/··˘····
delight!	2	˘/
Some there were with sad misgivings heard the sound of joyous cheer	15	·····˘/˘····/˘·
And their minds were strangely anxious, whispered murmurs spake their fear:	15	····/˘/˘/˘/˘···
"Wondrous bow which Sisupala, mighty Salya could not strain,	15	/˘······/˘·····
Jarasandha famed for prowess strove to bend the string in vain,	15	······/˘·······
Can a Brahman weak by nature, and in warlike arms untrained,	15	······/˘··/··˘/
Wield the bow which crowned monarchs, long-armed chieftains have	12	·····/···/˘·
not strained?	2	··
Sure the Brahman boy in folly dares a foolish thoughtless deed,	15	······/˘··/˘/˘·
Shame amidst this throng of monarchs, shall it be the Brahman's meed?	15	·˘/···/········
Youth in youthful pride or madness will a foolish emprise dare,	15	··/˘··/˘··/˘˘/·
Sager men should stop his rashness and the Brahman's honour spare!"	15	/˘····/˘····/˘·
"Shame he will not bring unto us," other Brahmans made reply,	15	········/˘···˘/
"Rather, in this throng of monarchs, rich renown and honour high,	15	/˘····/··˘/·/˘·
Like a tusker strong and stately, like Himalay's towering crest,	15	··/˘··/˘····/˘·
Stands unmoved the youthful Brahman, ample-shouldered, deep in chest,	15	·˘/·/˘··/˘/˘···
Lion-like his gait is agile, and determined is his air,	15	/˘····/˘·˘/˘···
Trust me he can do an emprise who hath lofty will to dare!	15	······˘/··/˘···
He will do the feat of valour, will not bring disgrace and stain,	15	······/˘···˘/··
Nor is task in all this wide earth which a Brahman tries in vain,	15	···············
Holy men subsist on wild fruits, in the strength of penance strong,	15	/˘·˘/·······/˘·
Spare in form, in spirit mightier than the mightiest warlike throng!	15	····//˘··/˘˘/··
Ask not if 'tis right or foolish when a Brahman tries his fate,	15	······/˘·······
If it leads to woe or glory, fatal fall or fortune great,	15	······/˘/˘··/˘·
Son of rishi Jamadagni baffled kings and chieftains high,	15	········/˘··/˘·
And Agastya stainless rishi drained the boundless ocean dry,	15	····/˘····/˘/˘·
Let this young and daring Brahman undertake the warlike deed,	15	····/˘··/˘··/··
Let him try and by his prowess win the victor's noble meed!"	15	······/˘··/˘/˘·
While the Brahmans deep revolving hopes and timid fears expressed,	15	·····˘/˘··/˘·˘/
By the bow the youthful Arjun stood unmoved like mountain crest,	15	····/˘···˘/·/˘·
Silent round the wondrous weapon thrice the mighty warrior went,	15	/˘··/˘/˘··/˘/˘·
To the Lord of Gods, ISANA, in a silent prayer he bent!	15	··········/˘···
Then the bow which gathered warriors vainly tried to bend and strain,	15	····/˘/˘/˘·····
And the monarchs of the wide earth sought to string and wield in vain,	15	··/············
Godlike Arjun born of INDRA, filled with VISHNU'S matchless might,	15	/˘········/˘/˘·
Bent the wondrous bow of Drupad, fixed the shining darts aright,	15	··/˘······/˘·˘/
Through the disc the shining arrows fly with strange and hissing sound,	15	····/˘/˘····/˘·
Hit and pierce the distant target, bring it thundering on the ground!	15	····/˘/˘··/˘···
Shouts of joy and loud applauses did the mighty feat declare,	15	·····˘/˘··/˘·˘/
Heavenly blossoms soft descended, heavenly music thrilled the air,	15	/˘/˘·˘/˘/˘/˘···
And the Brahmans shook their deerskins, but each irritated chief	15	······/···/˘·˘·
In a lowly muttered whisper spake his rising rage and grief,	15	··/˘/˘/˘··/˘···
Sankha's note and voice of trumpet Arjun's glorious deed prolong,	15	······/˘··/˘·˘/
Bards and heralds chant his praises in a proud and deathless song!	15	··/˘··/˘····/˘·
Drupad in the Brahman's mantle knew the hero proud and brave,	15	······/˘··/˘···
'Gainst the rage of baffled suitors sought the gallant prince to save,	15	····/˘/˘··/˘···
With his twin-born youngest brothers left Yudhishthir, peaceful, good,	15	····/˘/˘····/˘·
Bhima marked the gathering tempest and by gallant Arjun stood!	15	····/˘/˘··/˘···
Like a queen the beauteous maiden smiled upon the archer brave,	16	····/˘˘/˘····/˘·
Flung on him the bridal garland and the bridal robe she gave,	15	····/˘/˘··/˘···
Arjun by his skill and prowess won Panchala's princess-bride,	15	······/˘····/˘·
People's shouts and Brahmans' blessings sounded joyful far and wide!	15	/˘····/˘/˘/˘···

The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.

More by Vyasa

The Mahabharata (condensed)