Shloka 183

बभ्रुवाहन-धनंजययोः संग्रामः

Babhruvāhana and Dhanaṃjaya’s engagement at Maṇipūra

Devanagari script

शिरांसि पातयामास भल्लै: संनतपर्वभि: । साथ ही विजयकी अभिलाषा लेकर आक्रमण करनेवाले उन सैन्धव योद्धाओंके मस्तकोंको वे झुकी हुई गाँठवाले भल्लोंद्वारा काट-काटकर गिराने लगे

Transliteration

śirāṃsi pātayāmāsa bhallaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Mit Widerhakenpfeilen, bhalla genannt, deren Gelenke gebogen waren, ließ er Köpfe fallen—er hieb, einen nach dem anderen, die Häupter der Saindhava-Krieger herab, die im Verlangen nach Sieg herangestürmt waren. Die Stelle betont den düsteren Schwung der Schlacht: Siegesgier trifft auf die schnelle, entschlossene Gewalt eines kundigen Kämpfers.

Word by Word

• शिरांसि: heads
• शिरांसि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• पातयामास: caused to fall / felled
• पातयामास: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (पातयति, caus.)
• Form: Perfect (periphrastic), Third, Singular

• भल्लैः: with bhalla-arrows
• भल्लैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भल्ल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• संनतपर्वभिः: with (arrows) having bent/curved joints (nodes)
• संनतपर्वभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संनतपर्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Saindhava warriors
• bhalla arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the harsh ethical reality of kṣatriya warfare: the drive for victory (vijaya-abhilāṣā) leads combatants into lethal consequences, while martial skill executes swift retribution. It invites reflection on ambition and the cost of violent conflict within dharma-governed battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the midst of fighting, a warrior uses barbed bhalla-arrows to sever and drop the heads of attacking Saindhava fighters who charge forward seeking victory.