Shloka 14

Saubhadra under Concentrated Assault; Pārṣata’s Intervention and Escalation

Devanagari script

ततः शक्ति महावेगां स्वर्णवैदूर्यभूषिताम्‌ । द्रोणस्य निधनाकाडक्षी चिक्षेप स पराक्रमी

Transliteration

tataḥ śaktiṁ mahāvegāṁ svarṇavaidūryabhūṣitām | droṇasya nidhanākāṅkṣī cikṣepa sa parākramī ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then the valiant warrior—intent on bringing about Droṇa’s death—hurled a mighty, swift-flying śakti (javelin), adorned with gold and vaidūrya gems, at Droṇa.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• शक्तिम्: a spear, javelin (shakti-weapon)
• शक्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• महावेगाम्: of great speed/impetus
• महावेगाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावेगा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• स्वर्णवैदूर्यभूषिताम्: adorned with gold and vaidūrya (cat's-eye gem)
• स्वर्णवैदूर्यभूषिताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्णवैदूर्यभूषिता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• द्रोणस्य: of Droṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• निधनाकाङ्क्षी: desiring (seeking) the death
• निधनाकाङ्क्षी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निधनाकाङ्क्षिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• चिक्षेप: threw, hurled
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पराक्रमी: valiant, mighty
• पराक्रमी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराक्रमिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• śakti (javelin weapon)
• svarṇa (gold)
• vaidūrya (gem)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how intention (ākāṅkṣā) shapes action in war: even a splendid, gem-adorned weapon becomes morally weighty when driven by the fixed aim to kill. It invites reflection on kṣatriya-duty and the ethical burden carried by deliberate lethal resolve.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that the powerful warrior Dhṛṣṭadyumna, seeking Droṇa’s death, hurls a fast, formidable śakti (javelin) decorated with gold and vaidūrya gems at Droṇa.