Shloka 37

Devanagari script

तदपास्य धनुश्किन्नं द्रोण: क्षत्रियमर्दन:

Transliteration

tad apāsya dhanuḥ chinnaṃ droṇaḥ kṣatriya-mardanaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Having cast aside that bow, now cut, Droṇa—the crusher of warriors—(stood ready to continue the fight). The line underscores the grim resolve of a master of arms who, even when his weapon is broken, does not abandon his martial duty amid the ethical turbulence of war.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (weapon/bow)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अपास्य: having cast away / throwing away
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + अस् (धातु: अस्/अस्—क्षेपणे; here in sense of 'to cast away')
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

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

• छिन्नम्: cut / severed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• द्रोणः: Drona
• द्रोणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्षत्रिय-मर्दनः: crusher of kshatriyas
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षत्रिय + मर्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇa
• bow (dhanuḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness in one’s chosen duty (kṣatriya-dharma) and the warrior ethos of continuing despite setbacks; it also invites reflection on how perseverance in war can be both valorous and ethically fraught.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Droṇa’s bow has been cut; Droṇa discards the broken bow and remains poised to continue the combat, emphasizing his formidable presence on the battlefield.