Shloka 496

Devanagari script

क्षुरप्रेण धनुश्छित्त्वा दशश्ि: प्रत्यविध्यत । आर्य! इससे दुर्योधन अत्यन्त कुपित हो उठा और उसने एक क्षुरप्रसे भीमसेनका धनुष काटकर उन्हें दस बाणोंसे घायल कर दिया

Transliteration

kṣurapreṇa dhanuś chittvā daśabhiḥ pratyavidhyata |

Translation

Sañjaya said: With a razor-edged arrow he cut Bhīmasena’s bow, and then struck him back with ten arrows. Enraged, Duryodhana answered force with force, intensifying the violence of the duel and showing how wrath in battle drives escalation rather than restraint.

Word by Word

• क्षुरप्रेण: with a razor-headed (arrow)
• क्षुरप्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुरप्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• छित्त्वा: having cut
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Karana
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: दशन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• प्रत्यविध्यत: pierced/struck (in return)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध् (वि + अति/प्रति उपसर्ग)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīmasena
• Duryodhana
• kṣurapra (razor-edged arrow)
• bow
• arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how anger and retaliation in war quickly escalate harm: a tactical success (cutting the bow) is immediately followed by further wounding, illustrating the ethical danger of krodha overriding restraint even within kṣatriya conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the ongoing duel, Duryodhana uses a kṣurapra to sever Bhīma’s bow and then shoots him with ten arrows, a counter-attack reported by Sañjaya as the battle intensifies.