Shloka 56

Devanagari script

तदपास्य धनुश्छिन्न॑ं सौबलेय: प्रतापवान्‌

Transliteration

tad apāsya dhanuś chinnaṃ saubhaleyaḥ pratāpavān

Translation

Sañjaya said: Casting aside that bow—now cut and rendered useless—the valiant son of Subala moved on without hesitation, showing the hard resolve of a warrior who does not cling to a broken weapon in the midst of battle.

Word by Word

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

• अपास्य: having cast away / having thrown aside
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + अस् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage as gerund)

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

• छिन्नम्: cut / broken
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद् (धातु) → छिन्न (क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सौबलेयः: Saubaleya (son of Subala; Shakuni)
• सौबलेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौबलेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Saubhaleya (Śakuni)
• bow (dhanuḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In battle, a warrior must act with clarity and detachment: when a tool is broken, one abandons it and continues the duty at hand rather than wasting time in regret or attachment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Saubhaleya (Śakuni), after his bow has been cut, throws it away and continues on, emphasizing his valor and readiness to persist despite a setback.