Mahabharata 7.141.69 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 141, Shloka 69

Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana

Devanagari script

तदस्य तरसा क्रुद्धों व्यधमच्चर्म सुप्रभम्‌

Transliteration

tadasya tarasā kruddho vyadhamac carma suprabham

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Alors, dans un élan de vitesse et de colère, il frappa et brisa cette peau protectrice éclatante—image de la fureur qui, attelée à la force, cherche à rompre même ce qui paraît sûr dans le chaos de la guerre.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (it)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• अस्य: of him / his
• अस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, singular

• तरसा: with force / swiftly
• तरसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरस्
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• क्रुद्धः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• व्यधमत्: blew / blew upon
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्मा
• Form: imperfect (laṅ), 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

• चर्म: leather (shield/covering)
• चर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्मन्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• सुप्रभम्: very splendid / shining
• सुप्रभम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्रभ
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• carma (protective hide/armor)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how anger, combined with momentum and power, drives destructive action in war—suggesting an ethical tension in kshatriya combat where prowess can be fueled by wrath rather than restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya narrates a moment in the battle where an enraged warrior, acting swiftly, strikes and breaks a shining protective covering (carma), indicating a forceful breach of defense amid close combat.