Shloka 24

Śalya Appointed as Karṇa’s Sārathi; Discourse on Praise, Blame, and Beneficial Counsel (कर्णस्य शल्यसारथ्यं तथा स्तवनिन्दाविचारः)

Devanagari script

अथान्यद्‌ धनुरादाय द्रुपदस्यात्मजो बली

Transliteration

athānyad dhanur ādāya drupadasyātmajo balī

Translation

ત્યારે દ્રુપદનો બલવાન પુત્ર બીજું ધનુષ ઉઠાવી, યુદ્ધના દબાણમાં પણ અડગ નિશ્ચયથી અડીખમ રહ્યો।

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अन्यत्: another (one)
• अन्यत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage as avyaya-kriyā)

• द्रुपदस्य: of Drupada
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुपद
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• आत्मजः: son
• आत्मजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बली: mighty
• बली: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Drupada
• Drupada’s son (Dṛṣṭadyumna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In a dharma-centered war narrative, the verse highlights perseverance in one’s appointed duty: when a weapon fails or circumstances shift, a warrior must regain composure and continue responsibly rather than collapse into despair.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Drupada’s son—identified in the epic context as Dṛṣṭadyumna—takes up another bow, indicating he is re-arming himself to continue the combat after a change or loss of his previous weapon.