Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 27

Adhyāya 14: Śalya’s Missile-Pressure and the Pāṇḍava Convergence (शल्यस्य शरवर्षम्)

Devanagari script

ततः प्रहर्षाद्‌ बीभत्सुर्व्याक्षिपद्‌ गाण्डिवं धनु:

Transliteration

tataḥ praharṣād bībhatsur vyākṣipad gāṇḍīvaṃ dhanuḥ

Translation

Then, overcome with exhilaration, Arjuna (Bībhatsu) swiftly brandished the Gāṇḍīva bow—an outward sign of renewed resolve as the battle’s duty pressed on.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततस्
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from that/thereupon')

• प्रहर्षात्: from/owing to joy
• प्रहर्षात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रहर्ष
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• बीभत्सुः: Bībhatsu (Arjuna)
• बीभत्सुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीभत्सु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• व्याक्षिपत्: threw about / brandished
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्याक्षिप्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• गाण्डिवम्: Gāṇḍīva (bow)
• गाण्डिवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डिव
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular (Vedic/epic alternant for धनुः = धनुषम्)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna (Bībhatsu)
• Gāṇḍīva (bow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the warrior’s inner readiness: righteous action in a just cause requires steadiness and resolve, and the disciplined hero (Bībhatsu) expresses that resolve through purposeful action rather than hesitation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, filled with exhilaration, flourishes his bow Gāṇḍīva—signaling eagerness and preparedness to engage in the ongoing battle.