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Shloka 7

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 94: Sātyaki–Sudarśana Yuddha (सात्यकि–सुदर्शन युद्ध)

त॑ द्रोण: पञ्चविंशत्या मर्मभिद्धिरजिद्मगै: । अन्तेवासिनमाचार्यों महेष्वासं समार्पयत्‌,उस समय आचार्य द्रोणने अपने महाधनुर्धर शिष्य अर्जुनको पचीस मर्मभेदी बाणोंद्वारा घायल कर दिया

sañjaya uvāca |

sa droṇaḥ pañcaviṃśatyā marmabhidbhir ajidmagaiḥ |

antevāsinam ācāryo maheṣvāsaṃ samārpayat ||

Sañjaya said: Then Droṇa, the preceptor, struck his own disciple—the great archer Arjuna—with twenty-five vital-piercing arrows, pressing the battle to its harshest edge. In this moment the war’s moral tension sharpens: the teacher, bound to his side’s duty, turns formidable skill against the very student he once trained, showing how dharma in war can force painful conflicts of loyalty.

तदाthen
तदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा
द्रोणःDrona
द्रोणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootद्रोण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पञ्चविंशत्याwith twenty-five (as an instrument/means)
पञ्चविंशत्या:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपञ्चविंशति
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
मर्मभिद्भिःpiercing the vital spots
मर्मभिद्भिः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootमर्मभिद्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
अजिद्मगैःunconquerable / irresistible (as epithets of the arrows)
अजिद्मगैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootअजिद्मग
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
अन्तेवासिनम्the pupil / resident student
अन्तेवासिनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअन्तेवासिन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
आचार्यःthe teacher
आचार्यः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootआचार्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
महेष्वासम्the great archer
महेष्वासम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमहेष्वास
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
समार्पयत्delivered/inflicted; caused to be struck
समार्पयत्:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-आ-√र्प (अर्प्)
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Droṇa
A
Arjuna

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the ethical strain of dharma in wartime: even sacred bonds like teacher and disciple can be overridden by role-based duty and allegiance, revealing how righteousness in conflict often involves tragic, painful choices rather than simple moral clarity.

Sañjaya reports that Droṇa attacks Arjuna directly, wounding him with twenty-five arrows aimed to pierce vital points—an intense escalation in the battle where the preceptor demonstrates his mastery against his foremost student.