Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 16

अध्याय ३: कृपस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Kṛpa’s Counsel to Duryodhana

Devanagari script

नातिक्रमिष्यते पार्थो धनुष्पाणिमवस्थितम्‌

Transliteration

nātikramiṣyate pārtho dhanuṣpāṇim avasthitam

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Pārtha (Arjuna) will not overstep or disregard the warrior who stands ready with bow in hand.” In the charged ethics of battle, the line underscores Arjuna’s disciplined attention to an armed opponent—recognizing readiness and threat, and responding within the accepted code of combat rather than with rash contempt.

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अतिक्रमिष्यते: will overstep / will transgress
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-क्रम्
• Form: Lṛṭ (Simple Future), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada

• पार्थः: Pārtha (Arjuna)
• पार्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धनुष्पाणिम्: the one with a bow in hand (bow-armed)
• धनुष्पाणिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुष्पाणि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अवस्थितम्: standing / stationed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव-स्था
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• पार्थ (Pārtha/Arjuna)
• धनुः (bow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights measured conduct in warfare: a disciplined warrior does not act rashly or contemptuously toward an armed, ready opponent, but responds within the bounds of kṣatriya duty and battlefield propriety.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya, narrating events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, remarks on Arjuna’s stance and intent: Arjuna will not ignore or overrun the bow-armed fighter who is firmly positioned and prepared for combat.