Shloka 3

Devanagari script

शक्त्यष्टिप्रासहस्तानां सहदेवं जिघांसताम्‌ | संकल्पमकरोन्मोघं गाण्डीवेन धनंजय:,सहदेवको मारनेकी इच्छासे शक्ति, ऋष्टि और प्रास हाथमें लेकर आक्रमण करनेवाले उन समस्त योद्धाओंका संकल्प अर्जुनने गाण्डीव धनुषके द्वारा व्यर्थ कर दिया

Transliteration

śakty-aṣṭi-prāsa-hastānāṃ sahadevaṃ jighāṃsatām | saṅkalpam akarod moghaṃ gāṇḍīvena dhanaṃjayaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Those warriors, weapons in hand—śaktis, aṣṭis, and prāsas—rushed forward intent on killing Sahadeva. But Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), wielding the Gāṇḍīva, rendered their resolve futile, thwarting the attempt and protecting his ally amid the press of battle.

Word by Word

शक्त्यष्टिप्रासहस्तानाम्of those having spears, lances, and javelins in hand

सहदेवम्Sahadeva

जिघांसताम्of those wishing to kill

संकल्पम्resolve, intention

अकरोत्made, rendered

मोघम्futile, vain

गाण्डीवेनwith the Gāṇḍīva (bow)

धनंजयःDhanañjaya (Arjuna)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Sahadeva

Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)

Gāṇḍīva

śakti

aṣṭi

prāsa

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?

In the ethics of epic warfare, steadfast protection of one’s ally and the timely use of skill to prevent unjust harm are presented as part of kṣatriya-dharma. Arjuna’s action exemplifies disciplined power used to avert a targeted killing.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group of warriors armed with spears and lances charge with the intention of killing Sahadeva. Arjuna, using his bow Gāṇḍīva, counters them so effectively that their plan becomes futile.