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Shloka 226

भीमसेनस्य वेगाभिपातः—विशोकसारथिसंवादश्च

Bhīma’s surge and dialogue with charioteer Viśoka

अर्धचन्द्रेण तीक्ष्णेन धनुश्छित्त्वानदद्‌ भृशम्‌ । इसके बाद कुपित हुए सात्यकिने रणभूमिमें प्रहार करनेवाले अश्वत्थामाके धनुषको तीखे अर्धचन्द्रसे काटकर बड़े जोरसे गर्जना की

sañjaya uvāca | ardhacandreṇa tīkṣṇena dhanuś chittvā nanāda bhṛśam |

Sañjaya dit : D’une flèche acérée en forme de croissant, il trancha l’arc d’Aśvatthāmā, puis poussa un rugissement retentissant. Dans l’ardeur du combat, ce geste marque à la fois la maîtrise tactique et la résolution farouche d’un guerrier qui répond à l’agression par une force décisive.

अर्धचन्द्रेणwith a half-moon (arrow/weapon)
अर्धचन्द्रेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअर्धचन्द्र
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
तीक्ष्णेनsharp
तीक्ष्णेन:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootतीक्ष्ण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
धनुःbow
धनुः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधनुस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
छित्त्वाhaving cut
छित्त्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootछिद्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
ननादroared/sounded
ननाद:
TypeVerb
Rootनद्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
भृशम्greatly, vehemently
भृशम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootभृशम्

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
A
Aśvatthāmā
S
Sātyaki
D
dhanuḥ (bow)
A
ardhacandra (crescent-shaped arrow)

Educational Q&A

In the battlefield ethic of the Mahābhārata, skill and decisiveness are integral to kṣatriya-dharma: a warrior must respond to threat with controlled prowess. The verse highlights how mastery over weapons can neutralize an opponent without immediately resorting to killing, while the roar underscores the psychological dimension of combat.

Sātyaki, enraged in the midst of the Kurukṣetra fighting, strikes Aśvatthāmā’s bow with a sharp crescent-headed arrow, cutting it. After disarming him, he lets out a powerful roar, asserting dominance and rallying force on the battlefield, as reported by Sañjaya.