Mahabharata 7.21.7 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 7

द्रोणविक्रमदर्शनम् / The Display of Droṇa’s Onslaught and the Debate on Pāṇḍava Regrouping

Devanagari script

अथास्य सहसाविध्यद्धयान्‌ दशभिराशुगै: । दशभिर्दशश्ि: क्रुद्ध उभौ च पार्ष्णिसारथी

Transliteration

athāsya sahasā vidhyad dhayān daśabhir āśugaiḥ | daśabhir daśabhiḥ kruddha ubhau ca pārṣṇisārathī ||

Translation

Then Satyajit swiftly pierced his horses with ten fast-flying arrows; and, angered, he struck both of the rear-guard protectors of the chariot with ten arrows each.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अस्य: of him / his
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, singular

• सहसा: suddenly, swiftly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा

• अविध्यत्: pierced, struck
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध् (विध्)
• Form: imperfect (laṅ), 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

• हयान्: horses
• हयान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, plural

• आशुगैः: swift(-going) (arrows)
• आशुगैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशुग
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, plural

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, plural

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, plural

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• क्रुद्धः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध (√क्रुध्)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ
• Form: masculine, accusative, dual

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

• पार्ष्णिसारथी: the two charioteers/guards at the rear (pṛṣṭha-rakṣakas)
• पार्ष्णिसारथी: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्ष्णिसारथि
• Form: masculine, accusative, dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Satyajit
• horses (of the chariot)
• pārṣṇisārathī (rear-guard chariot protectors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how krodha (anger) intensifies violence: martial skill and speed, though admired in a warrior, become ethically perilous when driven by wrath, leading to rapid escalation and broader harm.

What is happening in the narrative?

Satyajit suddenly shoots ten swift arrows to wound the opponent’s horses, then—angered—shoots both rear-guard chariot protectors (pārṣṇisārathīs) with ten arrows each, pressing the attack through tactical targeting.