Shloka 23

भीमसेनस्य वेगाभिपातः—विशोकसारथिसंवादश्च

Bhīma’s surge and dialogue with charioteer Viśoka

Devanagari script

छिन्नथन्वा ततो द्रौणि: शक्‍्त्या शक्तिमतां वर:

Transliteration

chinnathanvā tato drauṇiḥ śaktyā śaktimatāṃ varaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Alors Drauṇi, le fils de Droṇa, dont l’arc venait d’être tranché—le premier parmi les puissants—frappa de sa lance, poussant la bataille en avant malgré la perte de son arme.

Word by Word

• छिन्नथन्वा: whose bow is cut/broken
• छिन्नथन्वा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्न-धन्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• द्रौणिः: Drauni (Aśvatthāman, son of Droṇa)
• द्रौणिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शक्त्या: with a spear/javelin
• शक्त्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• शक्तिमताम्: of the spear-bearers / of the powerful (with spears)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्तिमत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वरः: the best/excellent one
• वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Drauṇi (Aśvatthāman)
• Śakti (spear/javelin weapon)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when a primary support is lost (here, the bow), a warrior committed to his role does not collapse into helplessness; he adapts and continues the struggle. Ethically, the verse highlights steadfastness and resourcefulness within the harsh framework of kṣatriya warfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the midst of battle, Aśvatthāman (Drauṇi) has his bow cut. Immediately afterward, he continues fighting by using a śakti (spear/javelin), and Sañjaya describes him as foremost among the mighty.