Shloka 33

Bhūriśravas–Sātyaki Saṃvāda and Duel; Arjuna’s Intervention (भूरिश्रवाः–सात्यकि संवादः, युद्धम्, अर्जुन-हस्तक्षेपः)

Devanagari script

चापं च रुक्मविकृतं विधुन्वन्‌ गजमूर्थनि

Transliteration

cāpaṃ ca rukmavikṛtaṃ vidhunvan gajamūrdhani

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Secouant son arc, orné et façonné d’or, il se tint debout sur la tête de l’éléphant, affichant une résolution sans peur au cœur du tumulte guerrier.

Word by Word

• चापम्: bow
• चापम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाप
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• रुक्म-विकृतम्: adorned/embellished with gold
• रुक्म-विकृतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुक्मविकृत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विधुन्वन्: shaking/waving
• विधुन्वन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: धुन्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गज-मूर्धनि: on the elephant's head
• गज-मूर्धनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गजमूर्धन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• bow (cāpa)
• gold ornamentation (rukma)
• elephant (gaja)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the warrior ideal of steadfast courage and readiness in battle—an aspect of kṣatriya-dharma—where outward composure and controlled strength are maintained even in peril.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a combatant positioned on an elephant’s head, brandishing a gold-adorned bow, signaling an aggressive and confident stance in the ongoing fighting of the Droṇa Parva.