Shloka 41

Devanagari script

त॑ विकर्ण: शरैस्ती&णैर्गुप्रपत्रैरजिह्ागै: । विव्याध परवीरघ्नमर्जुनं धृतराष्ट्रज:,तब धुृतराष्ट्रपुत्र विकर्णने शत्रुवीरोंका नाश करनेवाले अर्जुनको सीधे लक्ष्यकी ओर जानेवाले गृध्रपत्रयुक्त तीखे बाणोंसे बींध डाला

Transliteration

taṁ vikarṇaḥ śarais tīkṣṇair gṛdhrapatrair ajihmagaiḥ | vivyādha paravīraghnam arjunaṁ dhṛtarāṣṭrajaḥ ||

Translation

तब धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र विकर्ण ने शत्रुवीरों का संहार करने वाले अर्जुन को गृध्रपंखों से युक्त, सीधे लक्ष्य पर जाने वाले तीखे बाणों से बींध डाला।

Word by Word

तम्him

विकर्णःVikarna

शरैःwith arrows

तीक्ष्णैःsharp

गृध्रपत्रैःhaving vulture-feathered (fletching)

अजिह्वागैःwith (snake-)tongue-like tips; barbed

विव्याधpierced

परवीरघ्नम्slayer of enemy-heroes

अर्जुनम्Arjuna

धृतराष्ट्रजःson of Dhritarashtra

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Vikarṇa

Arjuna

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

arrows (śara)

vulture-feathers (gṛdhra-patra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya world of measured valor: even against a famed warrior like Arjuna, opponents must act with skill and resolve. Ethically, it reflects the harsh duty-bound arena of battle where prowess and steadfastness are tested, regardless of fame or rank.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the battle episode, Vikarṇa, a Kaurava prince, shoots Arjuna with sharp, straight-flying arrows fletched with vulture feathers, successfully striking him.