Shloka 35

Nārāyaṇāstra-utpātaḥ — Aśvatthāman’s Rallying Roar after Droṇa’s Fall (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६७)

Devanagari script

ततस्तु पाण्डवो ज्येष्ठ: खड्ग॑ चर्म समाददे । तदस्य निशितैर्बाणैव्यधमन्माधवो रणे,तब ज्येष्ठ पाण्डव युधिष्ठिरने ढाल-तलवार हाथमें ले ली। किंतु कृतवर्माने रणक्षेत्रमें तीखे बाण मारकर उनके उस खड्गको नष्ट कर दिया

Transliteration

tatastu pāṇḍavo jyeṣṭhaḥ khaḍgaṃ carma samādade | tad asya niśitair bāṇair vyadhaman mādhavo raṇe ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then the eldest of the Pāṇḍavas took up his sword and shield. But in the battle, Mādhava struck at him with sharp arrows, shattering that sword—showing how swiftly resolve and weaponry alike can be undone amid the ruthless momentum of war.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

तुbut, however

पाण्डवःthe Pandava (Yudhiṣṭhira)

ज्येष्ठःeldest

खड्गम्sword

चर्मshield (leather shield)

समाददेtook up, seized

तत्that (it)

अस्यof him, his

निशितैःwith sharp

बाणैःarrows

व्यधमत्shattered, destroyed (lit. blew apart)

माधवःMādhava (Kṛtavarman / a Yādava warrior)

रणेin battle

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Yudhiṣṭhira (eldest Pāṇḍava)

Mādhava (epithet used in the verse)

khaḍga (sword)

carma (shield)

bāṇa (arrows)

raṇa (battlefield)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the fragility of external supports—arms, defenses, and even momentary confidence—within the chaos of war. Ethically, it underscores how dharma in battle is tested not by ideals alone but by sudden reversals that demand steadiness and discernment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira, the eldest Pāṇḍava, takes up sword and shield to engage. The opposing warrior (named in the verse as Mādhava) counters immediately with sharp arrows, breaking Yudhiṣṭhira’s sword in the midst of combat.