Shloka 3

Śaineya–Bhūriśravas: Genealogy, Svayaṃvara Contest, and the Maheśvara Boon

Devanagari script

ततो द्रोण: शिने: पौत्रं चित्रै: सर्वायसै: शरै: । त्रिेभिराशीविषाकारैललाटे समविध्यत,उस समय द्रोणाचार्यने सम्पूर्णतः लोहेके बने हुए विचित्र तथा विषधर सर्पके समान भयंकर तीन बाणोंद्वारा शिनिपौत्र सात्यकिके ललाटमें गहरा आघात किया

Transliteration

tato droṇaḥ śineḥ pautraṃ citraiḥ sarvāyasaiḥ śaraiḥ | tribhir āśīviṣākārair lalāṭe samavidhyata ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Dann traf Droṇa Śinis Enkel Sātyaki an der Stirn mit drei Pfeilen — bunt gemustert, ganz aus Eisen und schrecklich wie giftige Schlangen — und trieb sie mit Wucht hinein.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

द्रोणःDrona

शिनेःof Shini

पौत्रम्grandson (descendant)

चित्रैःvariegated, wondrous

सर्वायसैःentirely of iron

शरैःwith arrows

त्रिभिःwith three

आशीविषाकारैःhaving the form of venomous serpents

ललाटेon the forehead

समविध्यत्pierced, struck

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Droṇa (Droṇācārya)

Śini

Sātyaki

arrows (śara)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the grim reality of kṣatriya-dharma: in war, even revered teachers like Droṇa must act with lethal precision against worthy opponents. It underscores how duty in battle can demand harsh action, where ethical intention is framed by role and circumstance rather than personal affection.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Droṇa attacks Sātyaki (Śini’s grandson) and pierces his forehead with three iron arrows described as serpent-like, emphasizing both the ferocity of the encounter and Droṇa’s martial mastery.