Shloka 85

Devanagari script

शल्यं च पार्थों दशश्ि: पृषत्कै- भुशं तनुत्रे प्रहसन्नविध्यत्‌

Transliteration

śalyaṃ ca pārtho daśabhiḥ pṛṣatkaiḥ bhuśaṃ tanutre prahasann avidhyat

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Pārtha (Arjuna), smiling with confident composure, struck Śalya powerfully with ten sharp arrows, piercing him through his armour—an act that underscores both the relentless duty of the warrior in battle and the grim precision demanded by righteous warfare.

Word by Word

• शल्यं: Shalya
• शल्यं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पार्थः: Partha (Arjuna)
• पार्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• पृषत्कैः: with arrows
• पृषत्कैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृषत्क
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• भृशम्: exceedingly, greatly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम्

• तनुत्रे: in/at the armor (cuirass)
• तनुत्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनुत्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• प्रहसन्: laughing, smiling
• प्रहसन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हस्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अविध्यत्: pierced, struck
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-व्यध्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• पार्थ (Pārtha/Arjuna)
• शल्य (Śalya)
• पृषत्क (arrows)
• तनुत्र (armour)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its starkest form: in a just war, a warrior must act with steadiness and precision, performing duty without hesitation. Arjuna’s composed smile suggests inner control amid violence—skill guided by resolve rather than panic.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Arjuna (Pārtha) shoots Śalya with ten arrows, striking him forcefully through his armour. It is a moment of tactical dominance within the larger, escalating combat of the Karṇa Parva.