Shloka 18

Devanagari script

अथान्यद्‌ धनुरादाय श्रुतिकीर्तिमहारथ:

Transliteration

athānyad dhanur ādāya śrutikīrtimahārathaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Śrutakīrti, that great chariot-warrior, took up another bow—signaling an unbroken resolve to continue the fight even when weapons fail, and reflecting the warrior’s code of persistence amid the harsh demands of battle.

Word by Word

• अथ: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अन्यत्: another (thing)
• अन्यत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √दा
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• श्रुतिकीर्तिमहारथः: the great chariot-warrior named Śrutakīrti
• श्रुतिकीर्तिमहारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुतिकीर्ति-महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• another bow (dhanuḥ)
• a great chariot-warrior (mahārathaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness: when one weapon is lost or broken, the warrior does not collapse into despair but takes up another and continues, valuing duty and resolve over comfort or fear.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that a renowned great chariot-warrior takes up a different bow, implying a moment in combat where a change of weapon is necessary and the battle continues without pause.