Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 12

शल्यस्य पाण्डवसेनापीडनम् — Śalya’s Assault on the Pāṇḍava Host

with Omens and Bhīma’s Counter

Devanagari script

चित्रसेनस्तु भललेन पीतेन निशितेन च

Transliteration

citrasenastu bhallena pītena niśitena ca

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Citrasena was struck with a broad-headed arrow—yellow-hued and razor-sharp.

Word by Word

• चित्रसेनः: Chitrasena (proper name)
• चित्रसेनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रसेन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• भल्लेन: with a bhalla-arrow (a kind of arrow)
• भल्लेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भल्ल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• पीतेन: yellow/golden
• पीतेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• निशितेन: sharp/keen
• निशितेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

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

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Citrasena
• bhalla (broad-headed arrow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the stark immediacy of dharma on the battlefield: in war, outcomes hinge on disciplined skill and decisive action, reminding the listener of the grave ethical weight carried by warriors and commanders.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a specific combat moment: the warrior Citrasena is hit by a bhalla arrow described as yellow and extremely sharp, indicating a serious, likely disabling or lethal strike amid the ongoing battle.