Shloka 28

Devanagari script

तथान्ये प्राद्रवन्‌ मूढा: पराड्मुखरथे<र्जुने

Transliteration

tathānye prādravan mūḍhāḥ parāṅmukharathe 'rjune | tadā kuntīkumāro 'rjunaḥ prahārakānāṃ dhvajān aśvān dhanūṃṣi bāṇāṃś ca nārācair ardhacandraiś ca śīghraṃ ciccheda ||

Translation

قال سَنجايا: لما مالَت عربة أرجونا إلى جهةٍ أخرى، اندفع محاربون كاورافا آخرون—وقد أضلّهم الوهم—فانقضّوا عليه. عندئذٍ قطع أرجونا ابن كونتي سريعًا رايات المهاجمين وخيولهم وأقواسهم وسهامهم بسهام «ناراجا» وبالمقذوفات ذات الرؤوس الهلالية، مُظهرًا إتقانًا منضبطًا في القتال لا غضبًا طائشًا.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्राद्रवन्: ran forth / rushed
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• मूढाः: deluded, foolish
• मूढाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पराङ्मुखे: when (it was) turned away / facing the other way
• पराङ्मुखे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराङ्मुख
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• रथे: in/on the chariot
• रथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• अर्जुने: in/with respect to Arjuna
• अर्जुने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• Kuntī
• Kaurava warriors
• chariot (ratha)
• banner/standard (dhvaja)
• horses (aśva)
• bows (dhanuḥ)
• arrows (bāṇa)
• nārāca missiles
• ardhacandra (crescent-headed) missiles

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts deluded, impulsive aggression (mūḍhatā) with disciplined skill and restraint. Arjuna responds to a sudden assault not with panic but with precise, proportionate action—an ethical ideal in kṣatriya conduct where mastery and clarity overcome confusion.

What is happening in the narrative?

As Arjuna’s chariot turns toward another direction, Kaurava fighters surge to attack him. Arjuna immediately neutralizes their offensive capacity by severing key battle elements—standards, horses, bows, and arrows—using powerful nārāca shafts and crescent-headed (ardhacandra) missiles.