Shloka 28

वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च

The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel

Devanagari script

सो5तिविद्धो बलवता समरे दृढ्धन्विना

Transliteration

so’tividdho balavatā samare dṛḍhadhanvinā

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。激戦のただ中で、彼は剛弓を操る不動の射手に、凄まじい力で射抜かれた。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अतिविद्धः: pierced through; severely wounded
• अतिविद्धः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिविद्ध (वि√व्यध्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बलवता: by the strong (one)
• बलवता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• दृढधन्विना: by the firm-bowed archer
• दृढधन्विना: Karana
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: दृढधन्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

सयजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• an unnamed warrior (he)
• a steadfast archer (unnamed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line underscores the harsh moral reality of war: strength and status do not guarantee safety; when determination and martial skill are applied, injury becomes inevitable. It invites reflection on the cost of violence even within the framework of kṣatriya-duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a battlefield moment: an unnamed warrior is forcefully pierced by an unwavering archer during combat, indicating a decisive strike amid the ongoing fighting in Droṇa Parva.