Shloka 40

अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa

with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma

Devanagari script

विमुखांश्रैव तान्‌ दृष्टवा द्रौणिचापच्युतै:शरै:

Transliteration

vimukhāṁś caiva tān dṛṣṭvā drauṇi-cāpa-cyutaiḥ śaraiḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing those warriors turn away—struck by arrows released from Drauṇi’s bow—he marked their retreat as a visible sign of battle’s pressure and shifting morale on the field, where prowess and fear alike drive men from their chosen stance.

Word by Word

• विमुखान्: turned away, facing away
• विमुखान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमुख
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• तान्: those (men)
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• द्रौणि-चाप-च्युतैः: by (arrows) released from the bow of Drauṇi (Aśvatthāman)
• द्रौणि-चाप-च्युतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रौणि + चाप + च्युत
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Drauṇi (Aśvatthāman)
• bow
• arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how, in war, inner resolve is tested by visible force: when struck by a powerful warrior’s arrows, even fighters may turn away. It implicitly contrasts steadfastness with wavering, a recurring ethical pressure-point within kṣatriya-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that certain warriors are seen turning away/retreating after being hit by arrows shot from Drauṇi’s bow, indicating Drauṇi’s effectiveness and a momentary shift in the battle’s momentum.