Shloka 40

Devanagari script

ततः साधुविसूष्टेन क्षुरेणानतपर्वणा । छित्त्वा शरासनं शत्रोर्नागमामित्रमार्दयत्‌,इसके बाद अच्छी तरह छोड़े हुए झुकी हुई गाँठवाले क्षुर॒ नामक बाणसे भीमसेनने शत्रुके धनुषको काटकर उसके हाथीको पुन: अच्छी तरह पीड़ित किया

Transliteration

tataḥ sādhu-visṛṣṭena kṣureṇānata-parvaṇā | chittvā śarāsanaṃ śatror nāgam āmītra-mārdayat ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Bhīmasena, with a well-released razor-headed arrow whose joints were bent, cut down the enemy’s bow; and he again grievously harassed the foe’s elephant.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

साधुwell, properly

विसूष्टेनreleased, shot forth

क्षुरेणwith the razor(-edged) arrow (kṣura)

आनतbent, curved

पर्वणाwith a joint/segment (knot)

छित्त्वाhaving cut

शरासनम्bow (lit. arrow-seat)

शत्रोःof the enemy

नागम्elephant

अमित्रम्enemy

आर्दयत्tormented, afflicted, pained

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīmasena

enemy (śatru/āmītra)

bow (śarāsana)

kṣura-arrow

elephant (nāga)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In the dharma of battle, effectiveness and restraint are expressed through skillful prioritization: first neutralize the opponent’s capacity to strike (cutting the bow), then apply force to end the threat. The verse highlights disciplined martial competence rather than reckless aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Bhīmasena shoots a razor-headed arrow that severs the enemy’s bow, and then he continues by severely troubling the enemy’s elephant, pressing his advantage on the battlefield.