Shloka 32

Śalya-parva Adhyāya 26 — Duryodhana’s remnant formation and rapid engagements

Devanagari script

छिन्नोत्तमाड्स्य तत: क्षुरप्रेण महात्मना

Transliteration

chinnottamāḍsya tataḥ kṣurapreṇa mahātmanā

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then, with a razor-edged arrow, the great warrior struck and severed the opponent’s head.

Word by Word

• छिन्न: cut off
• छिन्न: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद् (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उत्तमाङ्गस्य: of the head (best limb)
• उत्तमाङ्गस्य: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तमाङ्ग
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

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

• क्षुरप्रेण: with a razor-edged (weapon)
• क्षुरप्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुरप्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• महात्मना: by the great-souled one
• महात्मना: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• kṣurapra (razor-edged arrow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the stark, irreversible nature of warfare: even a ‘mahātman’ may perform lethal acts in the battlefield context, prompting reflection on duty, consequence, and the moral gravity of violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a great warrior uses a razor-edged arrow to sever the opponent’s head/visage—an emphatic description of a decisive, fatal strike in the battle.