Shloka 49

Devanagari script

वेग॑ चक्रे महावेगो धनुज्यामवमृज्य च । ततः सत्यजितश्चापं छित्त्वा राजानमभ्ययात्‌,फिर पांचाल वीर सत्यजितने भी शीघ्र ही सौ बाण मारकर अर्जुनको पीड़ित कर दिया। उनके बाणोंकी वर्षसे आच्छादित होकर महान्‌ वेगशाली महारथी अर्जुनने धनुषकी प्रत्यंचाको झाड़-पोंछकर बड़े वेगसे बाण छोड़ना आरम्भ किया और सत्यजितके धनुषको काटकर वे राजा ट्रुपदपर चढ़ आये

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca | vegaṃ cakre mahāvego dhanujyām avamṛjya ca | tataḥ satyajitaś cāpaṃ chittvā rājānam abhyayāt |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The mighty and swift Arjuna gathered speed; wiping and setting right the bowstring, he began to discharge arrows with great force. Then, cutting down Satyajit’s bow, he advanced upon the king (Drupada). The scene underscores the warrior code of the kṣatriya: skill, composure under pressure, and decisive action in battle, even amid intense exchanges of missiles.

Word by Word

वेगम्speed, impetus

चक्रेmade, produced

महावेगःvery swift (one)

धनुज्याम्bowstring

अवमृज्यhaving wiped/cleansed

चand

ततःthen, thereafter

सत्यजितःSatyajit

चापम्bow

छित्त्वाhaving cut

राजानम्the king

अभ्ययात्approached, advanced toward

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Arjuna

Satyajit

Drupada (king of Pāñcāla)

bow (dhanuḥ/cāpa)

bowstring (jyā)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: a warrior must remain steady under a barrage, restore readiness (even something as basic as the bowstring), and act decisively with skill rather than panic or cruelty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna, after being pressed by Satyajit’s arrows, regains momentum, adjusts his bowstring, shoots with great speed, cuts Satyajit’s bow, and then advances toward King Drupada.