Shloka 383

धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — दुर्योधनस्य ह्रदप्रवेशः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Duryodhana’s Entry into the Lake

Devanagari script

द्विधा चिच्छेद समरे सौबलस्य हसन्निव । प्रजानाथ! शकुनिके उस घोर खड्गको सहसा आते देख समरांगणमें सहदेवने हँसते हुए-से उसके दो टुकड़े कर डाले

Transliteration

dvidhā ciccheda samare saubalasya hasann iva |

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: O Herr der Völker, mitten im Kampf zerschnitt Sahadeva—fast als lächle er—mit blitzschneller Hand Shakunis furchtbares Schwert, die Waffe des Saubala, in zwei Stücke. Dieser Augenblick hebt Sahadevas gefasste Entschlossenheit und seine disziplinierte Kunst im Chaos des Krieges hervor, wo Meisterschaft und Selbstbeherrschung in einem Atemzug über Leben und Tod entscheiden.

Word by Word

द्विधाinto two (parts), in twofold manner

चिच्छेदcut, severed

समरेin battle

सौबलस्यof the son of Subala (i.e., Shakuni)

हसन्laughing

इवas if, like

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Shakuni (Saubala)

Sahadeva

sword (khaḍga)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in righteous warfare, victory depends not merely on anger but on disciplined clarity: Sahadeva’s calm, almost smiling composure highlights mastery over fear and impulse, aligning action with kshatriya-duty rather than uncontrolled rage.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the battle, Shakuni rushes forward with a fierce sword; Sahadeva meets the attack and, with a swift stroke, cuts Shakuni’s sword into two, neutralizing the immediate threat.