Shloka 41

Adhyāya 61: Saṃmohana-astra and the Kuru Withdrawal (संमोहनास्त्रं तथा कुरुनिवृत्तिः)

Devanagari script

त॑ विकर्ण: शरैस्ती&णैर्गुप्रपत्रैरजिह्ागै: । विव्याध परवीरघ्नमर्जुनं धृतराष्ट्रज:,तब धुृतराष्ट्रपुत्र विकर्णने शत्रुवीरोंका नाश करनेवाले अर्जुनको सीधे लक्ष्यकी ओर जानेवाले गृध्रपत्रयुक्त तीखे बाणोंसे बींध डाला

Transliteration

taṁ vikarṇaḥ śarais tīkṣṇair gṛdhrapatrair ajihmagaiḥ | vivyādha paravīraghnam arjunaṁ dhṛtarāṣṭrajaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Then Vikarṇa, son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, pierced Arjuna—slayer of enemy heroes—with sharp arrows, feathered with vulture-plumes and flying straight to their mark.

Word by Word

तम्him

विकर्णःVikarna

शरैःwith arrows

तीक्ष्णैःsharp

गृध्रपत्रैःhaving vulture-feathered (fletching)

अजिह्वागैःwith (snake-)tongue-like tips; barbed

विव्याधpierced

परवीरघ्नम्slayer of enemy-heroes

अर्जुनम्Arjuna

धृतराष्ट्रजःson of Dhritarashtra

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Vikarṇa

Arjuna

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

arrows (śara)

vulture-feathers (gṛdhra-patra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya world of measured valor: even against a famed warrior like Arjuna, opponents must act with skill and resolve. Ethically, it reflects the harsh duty-bound arena of battle where prowess and steadfastness are tested, regardless of fame or rank.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the battle episode, Vikarṇa, a Kaurava prince, shoots Arjuna with sharp, straight-flying arrows fletched with vulture feathers, successfully striking him.