Shloka 28

Devanagari script

तथान्ये प्राद्रवन्‌ मूढा: पराड्मुखरथे<र्जुने

Transliteration

tathānye prādravan mūḍhāḥ parāṅmukharathe 'rjune | tadā kuntīkumāro 'rjunaḥ prahārakānāṃ dhvajān aśvān dhanūṃṣi bāṇāṃś ca nārācair ardhacandraiś ca śīghraṃ ciccheda ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Ketika kereta Arjuna berbelok ke arah lain, para prajurit Kaurava yang tersesat oleh angkara segera menyerbu dan menubruknya. Maka Arjuna, putra Kuntī, dengan cepat menebas jatuh panji-panji, kuda-kuda, busur, dan anak panah mereka dengan peluru nārāca serta panah bermata bulan sabit.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्राद्रवन्: ran forth / rushed
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• मूढाः: deluded, foolish
• मूढाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पराङ्मुखे: when (it was) turned away / facing the other way
• पराङ्मुखे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराङ्मुख
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• रथे: in/on the chariot
• रथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• अर्जुने: in/with respect to Arjuna
• अर्जुने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• Kuntī
• Kaurava warriors
• chariot (ratha)
• banner/standard (dhvaja)
• horses (aśva)
• bows (dhanuḥ)
• arrows (bāṇa)
• nārāca missiles
• ardhacandra (crescent-headed) missiles

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts deluded, impulsive aggression (mūḍhatā) with disciplined skill and restraint. Arjuna responds to a sudden assault not with panic but with precise, proportionate action—an ethical ideal in kṣatriya conduct where mastery and clarity overcome confusion.

What is happening in the narrative?

As Arjuna’s chariot turns toward another direction, Kaurava fighters surge to attack him. Arjuna immediately neutralizes their offensive capacity by severing key battle elements—standards, horses, bows, and arrows—using powerful nārāca shafts and crescent-headed (ardhacandra) missiles.