Shloka 31

Śalya Appointed as Karṇa’s Sārathi; Discourse on Praise, Blame, and Beneficial Counsel (कर्णस्य शल्यसारथ्यं तथा स्तवनिन्दाविचारः)

Devanagari script

स्कन्धदेशस्थितैर्बाणै: शिखण्डी तु व्ययाजत

Transliteration

skandhadeśasthitair bāṇaiḥ śikhaṇḍī tu vyayājata

Translation

Sañjaya said: With arrows lodged in the region of his shoulder, Śikhaṇḍī nevertheless held his ground—enduring the wounds and continuing the fight, a stark image of resolve amid the brutal ethics of battlefield duty.

Word by Word

• स्कन्धदेशस्थितैः: placed in the shoulder-region
• स्कन्धदेशस्थितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्कन्धदेशस्थित
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शिखण्डी: Shikhandi
• शिखण्डी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• व्ययाजत: sacrificed/worshipped
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śikhaṇḍī
• arrows
• shoulder (skandha-deśa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness under suffering in the performance of one’s appointed duty (kṣatriya-dharma). Even when wounded, the warrior’s resolve not to yield becomes a moral image of endurance—though set within the harsh, tragic framework of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Śikhaṇḍī has been struck so that arrows are lodged in his shoulder area, yet he remains firm on the battlefield, continuing to face the enemy rather than retreating.