Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 44

Adhyāya 61: Saṃmohana-astra and the Kuru Withdrawal (संमोहनास्त्रं तथा कुरुनिवृत्तिः)

Devanagari script

तावुभौ गार्ध्रपत्राभ्यां निशिताभ्यां धनंजय: । विद्धवा युगपदव्यग्रस्तयोरवाहानसूदयत्‌

Transliteration

tāv ubhau gārdhrapatrābhyāṃ niśitābhyāṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ | viddhvā yugapad avyagrastayor avāhān asūdayat ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。そこでダナンジャヤ（アルジュナ）は、禿鷲の翼のように矢羽を備えた鋭い二本の矢で、二人を同時に射抜いた。さらに少しの動揺もなく、彼らの馬までも討ち倒した。

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• गार्ध्रपत्राभ्याम्: with two eagle-feathered (arrows)
• गार्ध्रपत्राभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गार्ध्रपत्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Dual

• निशिताभ्याम्: with two sharp (ones)
• निशिताभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Dual

• धनंजयः: Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विद्ध्वा: having pierced/wounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• युगपत्: simultaneously
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: युगपत्

• अव्यग्रः: unagitated, without haste
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यग्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तयोः: of those two
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• वाहान्: mounts/steeds (horses)
• वाहान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• असूदयत्: slew/caused to be killed
• Type: Verb
• Root: सूद्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Dhanaṃjaya (Arjuna)
• two opponents (unnamed here)
• vulture-feathered arrows
• horses

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadiness (avyagratā) and precision under pressure: effective action in conflict is portrayed as disciplined and composed, not driven by agitation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna (Dhanaṃjaya) shoots two sharp, vulture-feathered arrows to wound two foes at once, and then—remaining calm—brings down their horses, disabling their chariot-mobility.