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Shloka 4

तामापतन्तीं सहसा घोररूपां विशाम्पते । द्विधा चिच्छेद ते पुत्र: क्षुरप्रेण महारथ:

tām āpatantīṃ sahasā ghorarūpāṃ viśāmpate | dvidhā ciccheda te putraḥ kṣurapreṇa mahārathaḥ ||

Sañjaya said: O lord of the people, seeing that dreadful weapon rush toward him all at once, your son—the great chariot-warrior—cut it in two with a razor-edged missile.

ताम्her/that (f.)
ताम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
आपतन्तीम्falling/coming upon (rushing)
आपतन्तीम्:
Karma
TypeParticiple
Rootआपत् (धातु: पत्/आपत्)
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular, Present active (शतृ)
सहसाsuddenly
सहसा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसहसा
घोररूपाम्of terrible form
घोररूपाम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootघोररूप
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
विशाम्पतेO lord of the people
विशाम्पते:
TypeNoun
Rootविशाम्पति
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
द्विधाinto two (in two parts)
द्विधा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootद्विधा
चिच्छेदcut, split
चिच्छेद:
TypeVerb
Rootछिद्
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
तेyour
ते:
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormGenitive, Singular, 2nd
पुत्रःson
पुत्रः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
क्षुरप्रेणwith a razor-edged (arrow/weapon)
क्षुरप्रेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootक्षुरप्र
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
महारथःgreat chariot-warrior
महारथः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहारथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra
D
Duryodhana
Ś
śakti (weapon/spear-like missile)
K
kṣurapra (razor-edged missile/weapon)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the battlefield ethic where alertness and decisive action are essential; power is checked by counter-power, and prowess (śaurya, kauśala) becomes the immediate instrument of survival, even when moral restraint is not foregrounded.

A terrifying weapon (śakti) rushes toward Duryodhana; he responds instantly and splits it into two with a razor-edged missile (kṣurapra), as Sañjaya reports the event to Dhṛtarāṣṭra.