Shloka 83

Chapter 23: Śakuni Reports, Kaurava Advance, and Arjuna’s Penetration of the Host

Devanagari script

शिरो गृहीत्वा केशेषु कबन्ध: सम प्रदृश्यते । उद्यम्य च शितं खड््‌गं रुधिरेण परिप्लुतम्‌

Transliteration

śiro gṛhītvā keśeṣu kabandhaḥ sama pradṛśyate | udyamya ca śitaṃ khaḍgaṃ rudhireṇa pariplutam |

Translation

ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಕಬಂಧ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿತ್ತು—ಒಂದು ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶತ್ರುವಿನ ಕೂದಲೊಡನೆ ಕತ್ತರಿಸಿದ ತಲೆಯನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿದು, ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ರಕ್ತದಿಂದ ತೋಯ್ದ ತೀಕ್ಷ್ಣ ಕತ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಿ ನಿಂತಂತೆ.

Word by Word

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• गृहीत्वा: having seized/taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• केशेषु: in/by the hair (by the locks)
• केशेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• कबन्धः: a headless trunk
• कबन्धः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कबन्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सम्: altogether/clearly (intensifier with verb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्

• प्रदृश्यते: is seen/appears
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Lat, Present, Atmanepada (passive sense), Third, Singular

• उद्यम्य: having lifted/raising
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-यम्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Non-finite

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

• शितम्: sharp
• शितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• खड्गम्: sword
• खड्गम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रुधिरेण: with blood
• रुधिरेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुधिर
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• परिप्लुतम्: flooded/smeared (all over)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-प्लु
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• kabandha (headless trunk)
• severed head (śiraḥ)
• hair (keśa)
• sword (khaḍga)
• blood (rudhira)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dehumanizing horror of war: even bodies seem to act on, symbolizing how violence can overpower normal moral sensibility. It implicitly warns that adharma-driven conflict brings catastrophic suffering, even when framed within kṣatriya duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the terrifying sights on the battlefield: headless torsos (kabandhas) appear to stand and fight, one holding a severed head by the hair and brandishing a sharp, blood-drenched sword.