Shloka 32

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 155 — Ghaṭotkaca-nidhana-śoka and Karṇa-śakti-vyaya

Kṛṣṇa’s strategic reassurance

Devanagari script

धनुश्न पुनरन्येन चकर्तास्थ महारथ:

Transliteration

dhanuḥ punaḥ punar anyena cakartāstha mahārathaḥ

Translation

ಆ ಮಹಾರಥನು ಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಚಲವಾಗಿ ನಿಂತು, ಮತ್ತೊಂದು (ಶಸ್ತ್ರ/ಬಾಣ)ದಿಂದ ಮತ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಧನುಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಕತ್ತರಿಸಿದನು.

Word by Word

• धनुषा: with a bow
• धनुषा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• अन्येन: with another (one)
• अन्येन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• चकर्त: he made / he did
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (कर्तुम्)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• अस्थ: a bone
• अस्थ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्थि
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• महारथः: the great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• mahāratha (great chariot-warrior)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness and repeated effort under pressure: in war, a mahāratha maintains composure and effectiveness, illustrating disciplined resolve (kṣātra-tejas) rather than impulsive violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a battlefield moment where a great warrior repeatedly severs an opponent’s bow—disarming the enemy again and again—while remaining firmly positioned, emphasizing tactical dominance and endurance.