Shloka 31

Devanagari script

स तान्‌ मोघांस्तस्य कुर्वन्‌ शरौघां- श्वचार मार्गान्‌ नकुलश्षित्ररूपान्‌

Transliteration

sa tān moghāṁs tasya kurvan śaraughān vicāra-mārgān nakulaḥ citra-rūpān | narendra khaḍga-vicitra-hastaiḥ śīghratayā vicaran nakulasya sahasra-tārāṅkitaṁ phalakam karṇa-putreṇa mahāyuddhe vipulaiḥ śaraiḥ nāśitam ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Nakula, making the volleys of arrows shot at him fall fruitless, began to move along wondrous paths—displaying astonishing maneuvers in battle. O king, as Nakula swiftly ranged about, showing intricate sword-play, Karṇa’s son, in that great fight, shattered Nakula’s shield marked with a thousand star-like emblems by means of his massive arrows.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• मोघान्: fruitless, ineffective
• मोघान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोघ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तस्य: of him / his
• तस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• कुर्वन्: doing, making
• कुर्वन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शर-ओघान्: masses/volleys of arrows
• शर-ओघान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर + ओघ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विचरन्: moving about, ranging
• विचरन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मार्गान्: paths, courses
• मार्गान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नकुलः: Nakula
• नकुलः: Karta
• Type: ProperNoun
• Root: नकुल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• चित्र-रूपान्: of wondrous/varied forms
• चित्र-रूपान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र + रूप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (addressed as narendra)
• Nakula
• Karṇa-putra (Vṛṣasena)
• arrows (śara, śaraugha)
• sword (khaḍga)
• shield (phalaka) with thousand-star marks

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: composure under attack, tactical intelligence, and disciplined skill. Ethically, it underscores that prowess in war is measured not only by striking but also by neutralizing harm—turning an opponent’s assault ‘mogha’ through alertness and method.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nakula evades and nullifies incoming arrow-volleys with swift, unusual battlefield movements while displaying refined sword-handling. In response, Karṇa’s son (Vṛṣasena) counters decisively by shooting powerful arrows that smash Nakula’s star-marked shield during the great battle.