Shloka 29

Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ

Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response

Devanagari script

योधानामर्जुन: श्रेष्ठो गाण्डीवं धनुषां वरम्‌

Transliteration

yodhānām arjunaḥ śreṣṭho gāṇḍīvaṃ dhanuṣāṃ varam

Translation

Sañjaya said: Among warriors, Arjuna is the foremost; and among bows, Gāṇḍīva is the finest.

Word by Word

• योधानाम्: of the warriors
• योधानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: योध
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्रेष्ठः: the best
• श्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गाण्डीवम्: Gāṇḍīva (Arjuna’s bow)
• गाण्डीवम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीव
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• धनुषाम्: of bows
• धनुषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• वरम्: the best/excellent
• वरम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• Gāṇḍīva

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights exemplary capability: Arjuna represents the ideal warrior, and Gāṇḍīva the ideal weapon. Implicitly, it suggests that in dharmic conflict, both the character of the combatant and the instruments used matter for rightful and effective action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya, narrating the battlefield events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, praises Arjuna’s supremacy among fighters and identifies his bow Gāṇḍīva as the finest among bows, emphasizing the formidable strength of the Pāṇḍava side.