Shloka 118

Devanagari script

तमन्तरिक्षे नाराचं द्रौणिश्षिच्छेद पत्रिणा

Transliteration

tam antarikṣe nārācaṃ drauṇiś ciccheda patriṇā

Translation

Sañjaya said: While it was still in mid-air, Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāman) cut down that iron arrow with a feathered shaft—an image of battlefield mastery where swift perception and disciplined skill decide life and death in an instant.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अन्तरिक्षे: in the sky / in mid-air
• अन्तरिक्षे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तरिक्ष
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• नाराचम्: an iron arrow
• नाराचम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाराच
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्रौणिः: Drauni (Ashvatthaman)
• द्रौणिः: Karta
• Type: Noun (proper)
• Root: द्रौणि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• चिच्छेद: cut / severed
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पत्रिणा: with a feathered arrow
• पत्रिणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्रिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Aśvatthāman (Drauṇi)
• nārāca (iron arrow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how trained attention and mastery of technique can neutralize danger before it lands—suggesting that in crisis, disciplined skill and alertness are decisive, even amid the moral turbulence of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a combat moment: an iron missile (nārāca) flying through the air is intercepted and cut apart by Aśvatthāman using a fletched arrow, demonstrating superior archery and quick reaction.