Shloka 283

Devanagari script

मृदुपूर्व ततश्वैनं पुन: पुनरताडयत्‌ । शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले सव्यसाचीने अश्वत्थामाके घोड़े, सारथि एवं रथको चौपट कर दिया। फिर वे हलके हाथों बाण चलाकर बारंबार उसे घायल करने लगे

Transliteration

mṛdupūrvaṃ tataś cainaṃ punaḥ punar atāḍayat |

Translation

Sañjaya said: First, striking him lightly, he then kept smiting him again and again. In this phase of the battle, the archer deliberately moderated his force—wounding repeatedly rather than delivering an immediate killing blow—thus deepening the foe’s distress and displaying controlled mastery amid the violence of war.

Word by Word

• मृदु: gently, with a light (touch)
• मृदु: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पूर्वम्: at first, previously
• पूर्वम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

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

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (एतद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• अताडयत्: struck, smote
• Type: Verb
• Root: तड् (ताडयति)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• unnamed opponent (enam)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a morally charged aspect of warfare: skill can be used with restraint, yet restraint itself may serve cruelty when it prolongs suffering. It invites reflection on intention (bhāva) and proportionality in action, even within kṣatriya-duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a combat moment where a warrior first strikes the opponent lightly and then continues to strike repeatedly, indicating sustained pressure and domination rather than a single decisive blow.