Shloka 3

Devanagari script

रुजन्ति हि शरीराणि रोगा: शारीरमानसा: । सायका इव तीक्ष्णाग्रा: प्रयुक्ता दृढ्धन्विभि:,शारीरिक और मानसिक रोग सुदृढ़ धनुष धारण करनेवाले वीर पुरुषोंके छोड़े हुए तीक्ष्ण बाणोंके समान शरीरको पीड़ा देते हैं

Transliteration

rujanti hi śarīrāṇi rogāḥ śārīra-mānasāḥ | sāyakā iva tīkṣṇāgrāḥ prayuktā dṛḍha-dhanvibhiḥ ||

Translation

Dijo Nārada: En verdad, las enfermedades del cuerpo y de la mente atormentan a los seres, atravesándolos como flechas de aguda punta disparadas por guerreros de arco recio.

Word by Word

रुजन्तिthey pain, they afflict

हिindeed, for

शरीराणिbodies

रोगाःdiseases

शारीरमानसाःbodily and mental

सायकाःarrows

इवlike, as if

तीक्ष्णाग्राःsharp-pointed

प्रयुक्ताःshot, discharged, employed

दृढधन्विभिःby those having firm bows (strong bowmen)

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

śarīra (body)

manas (mind)

roga (disease)

sāyaka (arrow)

dhanus (bow)

dhanvin (bowman/warrior)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Suffering arises not only from external enemies but also from internal causes—physical and mental disorders—which can wound as sharply as weapons. Therefore one should cultivate disciplined living, mental steadiness, and prudent care of body and mind as part of dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is speaking in the Śānti Parva, using a battlefield simile: diseases (both bodily and mental) are compared to keen arrows shot by strong bowmen, emphasizing the intensity and inevitability of such afflictions when they arise.