Shloka 383

Devanagari script

द्विधा चिच्छेद समरे सौबलस्य हसन्निव । प्रजानाथ! शकुनिके उस घोर खड्गको सहसा आते देख समरांगणमें सहदेवने हँसते हुए-से उसके दो टुकड़े कर डाले

Transliteration

dvidhā ciccheda samare saubalasya hasann iva |

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Ô seigneur des peuples, au cœur du combat, Sahadeva—comme s’il souriait—trancha d’un geste prompt l’épée terrible de Shakuni, le Saubala, la réduisant en deux morceaux. L’instant met en lumière la résolution calme et la maîtrise disciplinée de Sahadeva dans le tumulte de la guerre, où l’art et la retenue tranchent la vie et la mort en un éclair.

Word by Word

द्विधाinto two (parts), in twofold manner

चिच्छेदcut, severed

समरेin battle

सौबलस्यof the son of Subala (i.e., Shakuni)

हसन्laughing

इवas if, like

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Shakuni (Saubala)

Sahadeva

sword (khaḍga)

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?

Even in righteous warfare, victory depends not merely on anger but on disciplined clarity: Sahadeva’s calm, almost smiling composure highlights mastery over fear and impulse, aligning action with kshatriya-duty rather than uncontrolled rage.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the battle, Shakuni rushes forward with a fierce sword; Sahadeva meets the attack and, with a swift stroke, cuts Shakuni’s sword into two, neutralizing the immediate threat.