Shloka 38

Devanagari script

विकर्षन्‌ वै धनु: श्रेष्ठ सर्वभारसहं दृढम्‌

Transliteration

vikarṣan vai dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṃ sarvabhārasahaṃ dṛḍham

Translation

Sañjaya said: Drawing back that excellent bow—firm and able to bear every strain—he prepared himself with unwavering resolve, embodying the grim discipline of the battlefield where strength and steadiness decide life and death.

Word by Word

• विकर्षन्: dragging / drawing (back)
• विकर्षन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√कृष्
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रेष्ठम्: excellent, best
• श्रेष्ठम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्वभारसहम्: able to bear all burdens
• सर्वभारसहम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-भार-सह
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृढम्: firm, strong
• दृढम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• bow (dhanuḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadiness under pressure: excellence is not only power but the capacity to endure strain without wavering—an ethical reminder that in crisis, firmness and disciplined control determine one’s effectiveness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a warrior drawing a superior, sturdy bow capable of withstanding great tension, signaling immediate readiness for combat and the escalation of action in the battle scene.