Shloka 90

Devanagari script

तदपास्य धनुश्कछिन्नं द्रोणपुत्रो महामना:

Transliteration

tad apāsya dhanuḥ chinnaṃ droṇaputro mahāmanāḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Casting aside that bow, now cut and rendered useless, the high-souled son of Droṇa moved on—unshaken in resolve amid the moral chaos of battle, where even a warrior’s broken weapon becomes a moment of decision rather than defeat.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (it)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• अपास्य: having cast away / having thrown aside
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + अस् (धातु: अस्/अस्— 'to throw/cast'; gerund formation)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage)

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• कच्छिन्नम्: cut off at the end/edge (i.e., with the tip/part cut off)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क + छिन्न (√छिद्)
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• द्रोणपुत्रः: Drona's son (Ashvatthaman)
• द्रोणपुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोणपुत्र
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• महामनाः: great-minded, noble-souled
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महामनस्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇa
• Droṇaputra (Aśvatthāmā)
• dhanuḥ (bow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in warfare, a setback (like a broken weapon) tests inner steadiness: the noble-minded do not collapse into panic or spite, but choose their next action with resolve—an ethical reminder that character is revealed under pressure.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāmā) discards a bow that has been cut/broken, indicating a turn in the immediate combat situation and a transition to another tactic or weapon.