Shloka 31

Adhyāya 16: Saṃśaptaka-vrata and the Diversion of Arjuna (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६)

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठिरं स विद्ध्वा तु शरै: संनतपर्वभि: । युगन्धरं तु भल्‍लेन रथनीडादपातयत्‌,तब झुकी हुई गाँठवाले बाणोंद्वारा युधिष्ठिरको घायल करके द्रोणाचार्यने एक भल्ल नामक बाणद्धारा मारकर युगन्धरको रथकी बैठकसे नीचे गिरा दिया

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhiraṃ sa viddhvā tu śaraiḥ sannatapārva-bhiḥ | yugandharaṃ tu bhallena rathanīḍād apātayat ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Après avoir frappé Yudhiṣṭhira de flèches aux jointures recourbées et l’avoir blessé, Droṇācārya, d’un trait bhalla, fit choir Yugandhara du siège de son char.

Word by Word

युधिष्ठिरम्Yudhiṣṭhira (as object)

सःhe

विद्ध्वाhaving pierced/wounded

तुbut/indeed

शरैःwith arrows

संनतपर्वभिःwith (arrows) having bent/low joints (i.e., downward-bent knots)

युगन्धरम्Yugandhara (as object)

तुand/but

भल्लेनwith a bhalla-arrow (a broad-headed arrow)

रथनीडात्from the chariot-seat (lit. chariot-nest)

अपातयत्caused to fall; knocked down

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Yudhiṣṭhira

Droṇācārya

Yugandhara

śara (arrows)

bhalla (broad-headed arrow)

ratha (chariot)

rathanīḍa (chariot-seat)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the harsh impartiality of war: even the most dharmic ruler can be wounded, and battlefield duty is executed through skill and resolve. It reflects kṣatriya-dharma—action performed amid conflict, where outcomes hinge on prowess and circumstance rather than moral status alone.

What is happening in the narrative?

Droṇa first wounds Yudhiṣṭhira with specialized arrows described as having bent joints, then uses a bhalla arrow to strike down Yugandhara, causing him to fall from the chariot-seat.