Shloka 326

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 155 — Ghaṭotkaca-nidhana-śoka and Karṇa-śakti-vyaya

Kṛṣṇa’s strategic reassurance

Devanagari script

चतुर्भिश्नतुरश्चैव बाणैरविव्याध वाजिन: । फिर दूसरे बाणसे महारथी दुर्योधनने राजा युधिष्ठिरका धनुष भी काट दिया और चार बाणोंसे उनके चारों घोड़ोंको बींध डाला

Transliteration

caturbhiś caturaś caiva bāṇair avivyādha vājinaḥ |

Translation

Sanjaya said: With four arrows, he pierced the four horses; in the same exchange, the great chariot-warrior Duryodhana also cut down King Yudhiṣṭhira’s bow with another shaft.

Word by Word

• चतुर्भिः: with four
• चतुर्भिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• नतुरः: the bent ones (uncertain reading)
• नतुरः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नतुर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

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

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अविव्याध: pierced
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वाजिनः: horses
• वाजिनः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duryodhana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• bow (dhanus)
• arrows (bāṇa)
• horses (vājinaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the harsh logic of battlefield duty: martial excellence and decisive action dominate the moment, even when they diminish symbols of kingship (like a bow) and intensify suffering (like striking horses). It invites reflection on how dharma in war can conflict with compassion and restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Drona Parva battle scene narrated by Sañjaya, a warrior (contextually Duryodhana per the accompanying line) shoots four arrows to pierce the four horses of the opposing chariot, and then cuts King Yudhiṣṭhira’s bow, aiming to disable his mobility and fighting capacity.