Shloka 17

Devanagari script

सव्यसाची तु संक्रुद्धों विकृष्प बलवद्‌ धनु: । हयांश्वकार निर्जीवान्‌ सारथेश्व शिरोडहरत्‌,अब सव्यसाची अर्जुनका क्रोध बढ़ गया। उन्होंने अपने धनुषको जोरसे खींचा और मेघसन्धिके घोड़ोंको प्राणहीन करके उसके सारथिका भी सिर उड़ा दिया

Transliteration

savyasācī tu saṁkruddho vikṛṣya balavad dhanuḥ | hayāṁś cākār nirjīvān sārathes tu śiro 'harat ||

Translation

ಆಗ ಸವ್ಯಸಾಚಿ ಅರ್ಜುನನು ಕ್ರೋಧದಿಂದ ಉರಿದು, ಬಲವಾಗಿ ಧನುಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಎಳೆದು ಮೇಘಸಂಧಿಯ ಕುದುರೆಗಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾಣಹೀನಗೊಳಿಸಿದನು; ಅವನ ಸಾರಥಿಯ ತಲೆಯನ್ನೂ ಕಡಿದು ಹಾಕಿದನು.

Word by Word

सव्यसाचीArjuna (the ambidextrous archer)

तुbut/indeed

संक्रुद्धःenraged

विकृष्यhaving drawn (back)

बलवत्forcefully

धनुःbow

हयान्horses

चकारmade

निर्जीवान्lifeless

सारथेःof the charioteer

शिरःhead

उदाहरत्he carried off / struck off

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Arjuna (Savyasācī)

horses (of the chariot)

charioteer

bow

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the moral danger of krodha (anger): even when a warrior’s duty permits force in battle, anger can intensify violence and narrow discernment. It invites reflection on self-control as an ethical safeguard within kṣatriya-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna, provoked and furious, draws his bow powerfully and disables the enemy chariot by killing its horses; he then beheads the charioteer, decisively neutralizing the opponent’s mobility and command.