Shloka 30

Devanagari script

ततो घटोत्कचो बाणैर्दशभिद्रौणिमाहवे

Transliteration

tato ghaṭotkaco bāṇair daśabhir drauṇim āhave

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then, in the midst of battle, Ghaṭotkaca struck Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāman) with ten arrows—an act that intensifies the night-fight’s ferocity and signals the relentless escalation of violence where prowess and wrath drive the combatants beyond restraint.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तस्मात्/तदनन्तरम्-अर्थे)

• घटोत्कचः: Ghaṭotkaca
• घटोत्कचः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: घटोत्कच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (बाणैः इति विशेषणम्)

• द्रौणिम्: Drauṇi (Aśvatthāman)
• द्रौणिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आहवे: in battle
• आहवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Ghaṭotkaca
• Drauṇi (Aśvatthāman)
• arrows (bāṇa)
• battle (āhava)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how warfare tends to escalate through retaliatory strikes; even when framed as kṣatriya duty, unchecked anger and competitive valor can deepen suffering and push combat toward greater brutality.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Ghaṭotkaca, fighting on the battlefield, shoots Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son) with ten arrows, marking a direct and forceful engagement between major warriors.