Shloka 57

Devanagari script

संधाय विशिखं चैव शरं लोमप्रवाहिनम्‌

Transliteration

sandhāya viśikhaṃ caiva śaraṃ lomapravāhinam

Translation

Sañjaya dit : «Il ajusta la pointe, puis arma une flèche qui faisait se hérisser les poils, se préparant à la décocher.»

Word by Word

• संधाय: having fixed/aimed (having set on the bow)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-धा (धातु: धा)
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे अव्ययीभाव/absolutive), परस्मैपदी (प्रयोगानुसार), अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण)

• विशिखम्: arrow
• विशिखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशिख
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• शरम्: arrow
• शरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लोमप्रवाहिनम्: hair-raising (causing the hair to bristle)
• लोमप्रवाहिनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोमप्रवाहिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• arrow (śara)
• arrowhead (viśikha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the intentional, crafted nature of violence in battle: weapons are prepared not only to strike but also to terrify. Ethically, it underscores how fear becomes a tool in warfare, reminding the reader that war operates through both physical harm and psychological intimidation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a warrior’s immediate action on the battlefield: he readies an arrow by fitting/adjusting its head and preparing a ‘hair-raising’ missile, signaling an impending shot meant to shock or overwhelm the opponent.