Shloka 42

Devanagari script

ततो द्रोण: सुपीताभ्यां भल्लाभ्यामरिमर्दन:

Transliteration

tato droṇaḥ supītābhyāṃ bhallābhyām arimardanaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Droṇa, the crusher of foes, with two well-aimed, keen bhalla arrows, proceeded to strike—pressing the battle forward with decisive force amid the moral darkness of war.

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from/then')

• द्रोणः: Droṇa
• द्रोणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुपीताभ्याम्: with well-drunk/strong (i.e., well-tempered) (two)
• सुपीताभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुपीत
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Dual (agreeing with भल्लाभ्याम्)

• भल्लाभ्याम्: with two bhalla-arrows
• भल्लाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भल्ल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• अरिमर्दनः: enemy-crusher (slayer of foes)
• अरिमर्दनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरिमर्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (apposition to द्रोणः)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇa
• bhalla (arrow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when a warrior acts with mastery and resolve, the Mahābhārata frames such prowess within the larger ethical tragedy of war—skill does not erase the moral weight of violence, and duty (kṣatriya-dharma) operates amid painful consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Droṇa, described as a formidable foe-subduer, uses two precisely aimed bhalla arrows to strike in battle, indicating a moment of tactical, forceful action within the ongoing combat.