Shloka 78
Devanagari script
स च्छिन्नथन्वा विरथ: स्वधर्ममनुपालयन्
Transliteration
sa cchinnadhanvā virathaḥ svadharmam anupālayan
Translation
Sañjaya said: Even with his bow cut and deprived of his chariot, he continued to uphold his own dharma—persisting in the duty of a warrior amid the chaos of battle.
Word by Word
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
छिन्न-धन्वाwith (his) bow cut/broken
छिन्न-धन्वा:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootछिन्नधन्वन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विरथःwithout a chariot; dismounted
विरथः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootविरथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
स्व-धर्मम्one's own duty
स्व-धर्मम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootस्वधर्म
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अनुपालयन्upholding; observing; maintaining
अनुपालयन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअनु√पाल्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, Present active participle (शतृ)
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaCharacter 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
The verse highlights steadfastness in svadharma: even when external supports (weapon, chariot, advantage) are lost, one should continue to act according to rightful duty and inner discipline, especially in a role-bound context like a kṣatriya in war.
Sañjaya reports that a warrior, though rendered chariotless and with his bow cut, does not withdraw; he continues fighting and conducting himself in accordance with his warrior-duty.