Shloka 21

बभ्रुवाहन-धनंजययोः संग्रामः

Babhruvāhana and Dhanaṃjaya’s engagement at Maṇipūra

Devanagari script

ततस्ते फाल्गुनेनाजी शरै: संनतपर्वभि:

Transliteration

tataste phālgunenājau śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ

Translation

Puis, au cœur de la bataille, ils furent assaillis par Phālguna (Arjuna) de flèches aux jointures bien ajustées et solides — traits lancés avec une précision disciplinée, signe de la force décisive d’un art guerrier conforme au juste dans le conflit qui se déployait.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्ययम्

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक)

• फाल्गुनेन: by Phalguna (Arjuna)
• फाल्गुनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: फाल्गुन (अर्जुन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्

• अजि: in battle
• अजि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजि
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम् (वैकल्पिकं: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्)

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्

• संनतपर्वभिः: with (arrows) having well-bent joints/knots (i.e., well-made)
• संनतपर्वभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संनतपर्वन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Phālguna (Arjuna)
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined martial action: strength is not mere violence but controlled skill exercised in the proper arena of duty, reflecting the ideal of kṣatriya conduct when conflict is unavoidable.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Arjuna (Phālguna) strikes the opposing side in battle with well-made, firmly-jointed arrows, indicating an intense combat moment where Arjuna gains the upper hand through superior archery.