Shloka 75

Devanagari script

निर्मुक्तसर्पप्रतिमैरभी क्षणं तैलप्रधौतै: खगपत्रवाजै:

Transliteration

nirmuktasarpa-pratimair abhīkṣṇaṁ taila-pradhautaiḥ khagapatra-vājaiḥ

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Encore et encore, il fut frappé de flèches—luisantes comme des serpents venant de muer, polies comme lavées d’huile—rapides comme des ailes d’oiseau. L’image souligne la force implacable et impersonnelle du combat, où l’adresse et la fureur font des armes une attaque continue, presque naturelle, éprouvant l’endurance et la résolution tandis que s’effondre l’ordre moral ordinaire.

Word by Word

• निर्मुक्तसर्पप्रतिमैः: with (those) resembling cast-off snakeskins
• निर्मुक्तसर्पप्रतिमैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मुक्तसर्प-प्रतिमा
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अभि: towards, against
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि

• क्षणम्: for a moment
• क्षणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तैलप्रधौतैः: washed/cleansed with oil
• तैलप्रधौतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तैल-प्रधौत
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• खगपत्रवाजैः: with arrows having bird-feathers (fletched arrows)
• खगपत्रवाजैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: खगपत्र-वाज
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• arrows (śara/bāṇa implied)
• snake (simile)
• oil (polishing imagery)
• bird-wings/feathers (simile)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how war reduces action to relentless momentum: weapons become a continuous force, and a warrior’s dharma is tested through endurance, composure, and steadfastness amid suffering. The ethical tension lies in recognizing the terrible efficiency of violence while still observing one’s role-bound duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a combatant being struck repeatedly by swift, polished arrows. The arrows are compared to freshly shed snakes and to bird-wing-like speed, emphasizing the rapid, unbroken barrage in the battle scene.