Shloka 47

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 29 — Arjuna’s defeat of Vṛṣaka–Acalā and the neutralization of Śakuni’s māyā

Devanagari script

भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्णके कहनेसे अर्जुनने बाण मारकर भगदत्तके सिरकी पट्टी अत्यन्त छिन्न-भिन्न कर दी। उस पट्टीके कटते ही भगदत्तकी आँखें बंद हो गयीं ।। तमोमयं जगन्मेने भगदत्त: प्रतापवान्‌ । ततक्नन्द्रार्थबिम्बेन बाणेन नतपर्वणा

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | tamomayaṃ jagan mene bhagadattaḥ pratāpavān | tatakṣa indra-artha-bimbenā bāṇena nata-parvaṇā ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: The mighty Bhagadatta, his sight overwhelmed, felt as though the whole world had turned to darkness. At that very moment Arjuna, acting on Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s instruction, struck with a bent-jointed arrow and shattered the band that covered Bhagadatta’s head; as it was cut away, Bhagadatta’s eyes closed, and he perceived only gloom.

Word by Word

• तमोमयम्: full of darkness
• तमोमयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तमस् + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• जगत्: world
• जगत्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मेने: thought/considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भगदत्तः: Bhagadatta
• भगदत्तः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगदत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रतापवान्: mighty, valorous
• प्रतापवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतापवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• क्नन्द्रार्थबिम्बेन: with the (moon-like) disc/reflecting orb (as intended/aimed)
• क्नन्द्रार्थबिम्बेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्नन्द्रार्थबिम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• बाणेन: with an arrow
• बाणेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• नतपर्वणा: having bent joints/segments (of the arrow)
• नतपर्वणा: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नतपर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhagadatta
• Arjuna
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• bāṇa (arrow)
• śiras-paṭṭikā (head-band/bandage, implied by context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even great prowess can fail when perception is clouded; in dharmic warfare, disciplined action guided by clear counsel (here, Kṛṣṇa’s direction) can decisively change outcomes, while pride or reliance on mere strength leaves one vulnerable.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Bhagadatta suddenly experiencing darkness as Arjuna, following Kṛṣṇa’s instruction, shoots an arrow that cuts and shreds the head-band; once it is severed, Bhagadatta’s eyes close and his vision is obscured, marking a turning point in the duel.