Shloka 60

Cakravyūha-saṃkalpaḥ, Saṃśaptaka-āhvānaṃ, Saubhadra-vikrīḍitam

Drona Parva, Adhyāya 32

Devanagari script

अर्जुनश्नापि राधेयं विद्ध्वा सप्तभिराशुगै:

Transliteration

arjunaś cāpi rādhēyaṁ viddhvā saptabhir āśugaiḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Arjuna too struck Rādheya (Karna) with seven swift arrows—an act that underscores the relentless reciprocity of battlefield duty, where even the greatest warriors must answer force with force while remaining bound to their chosen allegiance and the harsh ethics of war.

Word by Word

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• राधेयम्: Radheya (Karna)
• राधेयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधेय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विद्ध्वा: having pierced/struck
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for ktvā), Non-finite

• सप्तभिः: with seven
• सप्तभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (agreeing with आशुगैः), Instrumental, Plural

• आशुगैः: with swift arrows
• आशुगैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशुग
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Rādheya (Karṇa)
• seven arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its stark form: in righteous warfare, a warrior must respond decisively to an opponent’s aggression, maintaining resolve and loyalty even when the conflict is morally weighty and personally costly.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, in the midst of the Drona Parva battles, pierces Karṇa (called Rādheya) with seven swift arrows, marking an intense exchange between two foremost archers on opposing sides.