Shloka 5

Devanagari script

ततो भल्लै: क्षुरप्रैश्न नाराचैर्विमलैरपि । गात्राणि प्राच्छिनत्‌ पार्थ: शिरांसि च चकर्त ह,पार्थने भल्‍्लों, क्षुरप्रों तथा निर्मल नाराचोंद्वारा शत्रुओंका अंग-अंग काट डाला और उनके मस्तक भी धड़से अलग कर दिये

Transliteration

tato bhallaiḥ kṣurapraiś ca nārācair vimalair api | gātrāṇi prācchinat pārthaḥ śirāṃsi ca cakarta ha ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Pārtha (Arjuna), with bhalla arrows, razor-edged shafts, and spotless nārāca missiles, severed the warriors’ limbs and struck off their heads. The verse underscores the grim, impersonal mechanics of battle: skill and resolve are exercised within the violent duty of war, where the ethical tension lies in acting as a kṣatriya without personal hatred, even while causing terrible destruction.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

भल्लैःwith bhalla-arrows

क्षुरप्रैःwith razor-headed arrows

नाराचैःwith iron arrows (nārācas)

विमलैःwith spotless/bright (ones)

अपिalso, even

गात्राणिlimbs, bodies

प्राच्छिनत्cut off, severed

पार्थःPārtha (Arjuna)

शिरांसिheads

चand

चकर्तcut, chopped off

हindeed (emphatic particle)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Pārtha (Arjuna)

bhalla (arrow type)

kṣurapra (razor-edged arrow type)

nārāca (missile/arrow type)

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?

The verse highlights the harsh reality of dharma-yuddha: a warrior may be required to act with lethal efficiency. Ethically, the emphasis is on performing one’s ordained duty (kṣatriya-dharma) without personal malice, even though the outward act is violent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Arjuna’s battlefield prowess: using different kinds of cutting and heavy arrows, he mutilates and kills opposing fighters, severing limbs and beheading them, indicating a decisive and terrifying onslaught.