Shloka 111

Devanagari script

तस्यास्यतोअर्धचन्द्रा भ्यां बाहू परिघसंनिभौ । पूर्णचन्द्रा भवक्‍त्रं च क्षुरेणाभ्यहरच्छिर:,उस समय अर्जुनने बाण-वर्षा करनेवाले उस वीरकी परिघके समान मोटी और सुदृढ़ भुजाओंको दो अर्धचन्द्राकार बाणोंसे काट डाला और एक छुरेके द्वारा पूर्ण चन्द्रमाके समान मनोहर मुखवाले उसके मस्तकको भी धड़से अलग कर दिया

Transliteration

tasyāsyato 'rdhacandrābhyāṃ bāhū parighasaṃnibhau | pūrṇacandrābhavaktraṃ ca kṣureṇābhyaharac chiraḥ ||

Translation

サञ्जयは語った。その武者が矢を降らせるや、アルジュナは半月形の矢二本で、鉄の棍棒のごとく太く強い両腕を断ち切った。さらに剃刀のように鋭い矢で、満月のように麗しい顔をもつその首を胴から斬り離した。

Word by Word

तस्यof him

अस्यतःof (him) who was (shooting/acting)

अर्धचन्द्राभ्याम्with two half-moon(-shaped arrows)

बाहूthe two arms

परिघसन्निभौresembling an iron bar/mace

पूर्णचन्द्रfull-moon (like)

वक्त्रम्face

चand

क्षुरेणwith a razor(-edged arrow/weapon)

अभ्यहरत्struck off / cut away

शिरःhead

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Arjuna

unnamed warrior (the one shooting arrows)

crescent-headed arrows (ardhacandra)

razor-edged arrow (kṣura)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the harsh reality of kṣatriya-duty in war: even a valorous and beautiful opponent can be decisively slain when the demands of battle and pledged duty prevail. It invites reflection on how skill and resolve operate within the moral framework of battlefield dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Arjuna countering an enemy who is actively firing arrows. Arjuna first cuts off the opponent’s two club-like arms with two crescent-headed arrows, then uses a razor-edged arrow to sever the opponent’s head from the body.