Shloka 64

Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

द्वाभ्यामतिशिताग्राभ्यामुभौ तत्‌ पार्ष्णिसारथी । ततोअस्य दीप्यमानेन पीतेन निशितेन च

Transliteration

dvābhyām atiśitāgrābhyām ubhau tat pārṣṇisārathī | tato 'sya dīpyamānena pītena niśitena ca

Translation

サञ्जयは語った。ついでパールシュニの御者は、先端きわめて鋭い二つの武器で両者を打ち、さらに燃え立つように輝く黄の色を帯びた、刃の冴えた飛び矢をもって再び襲いかかった――止むことなき戦の奔流のただ中で、闘争の凄烈さはいよいよ増した。

Word by Word

• द्वाभ्याम्: with two
• द्वाभ्याम्: करण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि
• Form: नपुंसक, तृतीया, द्विवचन

• अतिशिताग्राभ्याम्: with two very sharp-pointed (weapons)
• अतिशिताग्राभ्याम्: करण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिशिताग्र
• Form: नपुंसक, तृतीया, द्विवचन

• उभौ: both (of them)
• उभौ: कर्म
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: नपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पार्ष्णिसारथी: the two charioteers of Pārṣṇi (i.e., of Krishna)
• पार्ष्णिसारथी: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्ष्णिसारथि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• अस्य: of him
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• दीप्यमानेन: with (something) blazing
• दीप्यमानेन: करण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्यमान
• Form: नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन

• पीतेन: with a yellow/golden (one)
• पीतेन: करण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत
• Form: नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन

• निशितेन: with a sharp (one)
• निशितेन: करण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित
• Form: नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pārṣṇi (Kṛṣṇa)
• Pārṣṇi’s charioteer (Kṛṣṇa as Arjuna’s charioteer)
• weapons/missiles (śastra/astra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the grim discipline of kṣatriya-duty in war: skill, decisiveness, and escalation of force occur within a larger ethical tragedy, where even righteous sides must act amid violence and its moral weight.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a rapid sequence in battle: Pārṣṇi’s charioteer (Kṛṣṇa, serving as the charioteer) uses two very sharp-pointed weapons against two targets, and then follows up by launching or employing another blazing, yellow, keen-edged missile against an opponent.