Shloka 73

Śalya–Bhīma Gadāyuddham (मद्रराज-भीमसेन गदायुद्धम्)

Devanagari script

रुक्मपत्रान्तरे सक्तस्तस्मिं क्षमणि भास्वरे | सिन्धुराजबलोद्धूत: सो5भज्यत महानसि:,उस चमकीली ढालपर सोनेका पत्र जड़ा हुआ था। उसके ऊपर जयद्रथने जब बलपूर्वक प्रहार किया, तब उससे टकराकर उसका वह विशाल खड्ग टूट गया

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

rukmapatrāntare saktaḥ tasmiṃ kṣamaṇi bhāsvare |

sindhurājabaloddhūtaḥ so 'bhajyata mahān asiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: His great sword, striking against the shining shield inlaid with golden plates, was shattered—having been violently repelled by the forceful blow of the king of Sindhu (Jayadratha). In the grim ethics of battle, the verse highlights how prowess and momentum can abruptly overturn advantage, reducing even a mighty weapon to ruin in an instant.

Word by Word

• रुक्मपत्रान्तरे: in the interspace of a golden plate/leaf
• रुक्मपत्रान्तरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्मपत्रान्तर
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सक्तः: stuck/fastened
• सक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तस्मिन्: in/on that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• क्ष्मणि: on the shield/armor (protective surface)
• क्ष्मणि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्ष्मणि
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• भास्वरे: shining
• भास्वरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भास्वर
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सिन्धुराजबलोद्धूतः: driven/impelled by the force of the king of Sindhu (Jayadratha)
• सिन्धुराजबलोद्धूतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिन्धुराज-बल-उद्धूत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he/that (sword)
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभज्यत: broke/was shattered
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada

• महान्: great/huge
• महान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महान्त्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• असिः: sword
• असिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Sindhurāja (Jayadratha)
• shield (kṣamaṇi)
• golden inlay (rukmapatra)
• sword (asi)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a dharma-governed battlefield, outcomes hinge on strength, timing, and circumstance; pride in weapons or advantage is fragile, and a single counterforce can nullify it.

What is happening in the narrative?

A warrior’s mighty sword strikes a radiant shield inlaid with gold; Jayadratha (the king of Sindhu) counters with such force that the sword is repelled and breaks.