Shloka 166

Devanagari script

सर्वनिविध्यन्निशितैर्दशभिर्दशभि: शरै: । शीघ्रतापूर्वक हाथ चलानेवाले जितेन्द्रिय अर्जुनने अपने अस्त्रोंद्वारा शत्रुओंके अस्त्रोंका निवारण करके उन सबको दस-दस तीखे बाणोंसे बींध डाला

Transliteration

sarvān nividyann niśitair daśabhir daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ | śīghratāpūrvaka-hasta-cālanavān jitendriya arjuno 'strāṇāṃ śatrūṇām astrāṇi nivārya tān sarvān daśa-daśa-tīkṣṇa-bāṇair bibhēda ||

Translation

ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಜಿತೇಂದ್ರಿಯನೂ ವೇಗಹಸ್ತನೂ ಆದ ಅರ್ಜುನನು ಮೊದಲು ತನ್ನ ಅಸ್ತ್ರಗಳಿಂದ ಶತ್ರುಗಳ ಅಸ್ತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ತಡೆದು ನಿಷ್ಪ್ರಭಗೊಳಿಸಿದನು; ನಂತರ ಅವರನ್ನೆಲ್ಲಾ ಹತ್ತು ಹತ್ತು ತೀಕ್ಷ್ಣ ಬಾಣಗಳಿಂದ ಭೇದಿಸಿದನು.

Word by Word

• सर्वान्: all (of them)
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• निविध्य: having pierced
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-व्यध्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• निशितैः: with sharp (ones)
• निशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• दशभिः: with ten (each)
• दशभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• enemies (śatravaḥ)
• arrows (śara/bāṇa)
• weapons/missiles (astra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid violence, the text highlights mastery over the senses (jitendriya) and disciplined, proportionate action—skill guided by restraint rather than anger—suggesting an ethical ideal for conduct in battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna rapidly counters the incoming enemy missiles with his own weapons, neutralizes their attacks, and then strikes the opposing warriors, piercing each with ten sharp arrows.