Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 27

शल्यस्य पाण्डवसेनापीडनम् — Śalya’s Assault on the Pāṇḍava Host

with Omens and Bhīma’s Counter

Devanagari script

ततः प्रहस्य नकुलश्षतुर्भिश्चतुरो रणे

Transliteration

tataḥ prahasya nakulaś śatubhiś caturō raṇe

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Nakula, smiling, confronted four opponents on the battlefield—an image of composed courage amid the moral strain of war, where steadiness of mind is tested as much as strength of arms.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (पञ्चमी-अर्थे: 'from/thereupon')

• प्रहस्य: having laughed
• प्रहस्य: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), 'having laughed'

• नकुलः: Nakula
• नकुलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शत्रुभिः: by/with enemies
• शत्रुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• चतुरः: four
• चतुरः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Nakula
• four opponents/enemies

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights inner composure in the midst of conflict: even in a morally weighty war, a warrior’s steadiness and fearlessness are portrayed as part of kṣatriya-dharma—acting without panic, meeting danger with controlled resolve.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Nakula, smiling, engages four adversaries in the battle, signaling confidence and readiness as the fighting intensifies in the Śalya Parva.