Shloka 7

Adhyāya 16: Saṃśaptaka-vrata and the Diversion of Arjuna (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६)

Devanagari script

नाकुलिस्तु शतानीको वृषसेनं समभ्ययात्‌ | विव्याध चैनं दशभिनरिचैर्मर्म भेदिभि:,इसी समय नकुलके पुत्र शतानीकने वृषसेनपर आक्रमण किया और दस मर्मभेदी नाराचोंद्वारा उसे बींध डाला

Transliteration

nākulis tu śatānīko vṛṣasenaṃ samabhyayāt | vivyādha cainaṃ daśabhir nārācair marma-bhedibhiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Śatānīka, the son of Nakula, charged straight at Vṛṣasena and pierced him with ten nārāca arrows that struck vital points. The scene underscores the relentless, skill-driven violence of the battlefield, where lineage and duty propel warriors into direct, lethal confrontation.

Word by Word

• नकुलिः: Nakuli (son of Nakula)
• नकुलिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुलि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• शतानीकः: Śatānīka (having a hundred troops; proper name)
• शतानीकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतानीक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वृषसेनम्: Vṛṣasena
• वृषसेनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषसेन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समभ्ययात्: approached/attacked
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (याति)
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• विव्याध: pierced
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध् (विध्यति)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद् (एनद्-प्रयोगः)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• नाराचैः: with iron arrows (nārācas)
• नाराचैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाराच
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• मर्मभेदिभिः: with vital-part-piercing (arrows)
• मर्मभेदिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मर्मभेदिन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śatānīka (son of Nakula)
• Nakula
• Vṛṣasena
• nārāca arrows
• marma (vital points)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the battlefield ethic of kṣatriya-dharma: warriors act decisively according to their role and allegiance, even when the action is harsh. It also reflects how martial skill (targeting marmas) becomes morally framed as duty within war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Śatānīka, Nakula’s son, rushes at Vṛṣasena and wounds him by shooting ten nārāca arrows that strike vital points.