Shloka 17

Devanagari script

अथान्यद्‌ धनुरादाय सात्यकिर्वेगवत्तरम्‌ । पज्चभि: सायकैस्तूर्ण सोमदत्तमविध्यत,तदनन्तर सात्यकिने अत्यन्त वेगशाली दूसरा धनुष हाथमें लेकर तुरंत ही पाँच बाणोंसे सोमदत्तको बींध डाला

Transliteration

athānyad dhanur ādāya sātyakir vegavattaram | pañcabhiḥ sāyakais tūrṇaṃ somadattam avidhyat ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Sātyaki, taking up another bow of even greater speed, swiftly pierced Somadatta with five arrows. The narration underscores the relentless momentum of battle—skill and resolve driving each exchange—while also reminding that in war, prowess is measured in controlled, purposeful action rather than mere fury.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अन्यत्: another (one)
• अन्यत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• सात्यकिः: Sātyaki
• सात्यकिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्यकि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वेगवत्-तरम्: more swift (one)
• वेगवत्-तरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेगवत्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular, Comparative (तर)

• पञ्चभिः: with five
• पञ्चभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective (Numeral)
• Root: पञ्च
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (agreeing with सायकैः), Instrumental, Plural

• सायकैः: arrows
• सायकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तूर्णम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्णम्

• सोमदत्तम्: Somadatta
• सोमदत्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोमदत्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अविध्यत्: pierced
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + व्यध्
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), Past, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Sātyaki (Yuyudhāna)
• Somadatta
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• arrows (sāyaka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined martial agency: in the chaos of war, effectiveness comes from swift, deliberate action aligned with a warrior’s duty (kṣatriya-dharma), not from uncontrolled rage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Sātyaki switches to another, faster bow and immediately strikes Somadatta with five arrows, intensifying the duel and signaling Sātyaki’s tactical readiness.