Shloka 23

Devanagari script

द्रोणश्व द्रुपदं भित्त्वा शरै: संनतपर्वभि:

Transliteration

droṇaś ca drupadaṁ bhittvā śaraiḥ saṁnataparvabhiḥ

Translation

Sañjaya dijo: Drona, atravesando a Drupada con flechas de junturas bien asentadas y firmes, lo abatió en el fragor del combate—imagen de destreza marcial que también revela la sombría tensión ética de la guerra, donde la enemistad personal y el deber chocan en el campo de batalla.

Word by Word

• द्रोणः: Drona
• द्रोणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्रुपदम्: Drupada
• द्रुपदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुपद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भित्त्वा: having pierced / having split
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• संनतपर्वभिः: with (arrows) having bent joints/knots
• संनतपर्वभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संनतपर्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Droṇa
• Drupada
• Śara (arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the harsh reality of kṣatriya duty in war: skill and resolve can be admirable, yet the act itself remains ethically fraught, especially when driven by longstanding rivalry. It invites reflection on how dharma in battle can conflict with compassion and personal bonds.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Droṇa attacks Drupada and pierces him with well-made arrows, depicting a decisive martial strike amid the Kurukṣetra conflict.