Shloka 29

Adhyaya 11 — Draupadī’s Grief, Demand for Justice, and Bhīma’s Departure

Devanagari script

आदाय रुचिरं चित्र समार्गणगुणं धनु: । नकुलं सारथिं कृत्वा द्रोणपुत्रवधे धृत:

Transliteration

ādāya ruciraṃ citra-samārgaṇa-guṇaṃ dhanuḥ | nakulaṃ sārathiṃ kṛtvā droṇa-putra-vadhe dhṛtaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Taking up a splendid, finely wrought bow endowed with excellent qualities for battle, he appointed Nakula as his charioteer and set his resolve upon the slaying of Droṇa’s son. The verse underscores the grim momentum of vengeance in war—skill and preparation are harnessed toward a morally fraught act of retribution.

Word by Word

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• रुचिरम्: beautiful
• रुचिरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुचिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चित्र: variegated / splendid
• चित्र: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समार्गणगुणम्: having the qualities of battle/archery
• समार्गणगुणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समार्गणगुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नकुलम्: Nakula
• नकुलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सारथिम्: charioteer
• सारथिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• द्रोणपुत्रवधे: in the slaying of Droṇa's son
• द्रोणपुत्रवधे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोणपुत्रवध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• धृतः: was resolved / was intent
• धृतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन, कर्मणि/भावे (Ppp; used predicatively)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Nakula
• Droṇa
• Droṇa-putra (Aśvatthāman)
• bow (dhanuḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how determination and martial competence can be directed toward vengeance, raising an ethical tension: even when one is capable and resolute, the chosen aim—retributive killing—remains morally weighty and consequential within the Mahābhārata’s reflection on dharma in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

A warrior prepares for combat by taking up an excellent bow, appoints Nakula as his charioteer, and fixes his intent on killing Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāman), signaling an imminent pursuit or confrontation driven by retaliation.