Mahabharata (Gita Press) 3.21.28 - Vana Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 28
Dvārakā’s Distress and the Saubha Engagement (द्वारकाव्यग्रता तथा सौभयुद्धम्)
तं॑ पतन्तं महाबाहो शूलपट्टिशपाणय: । अभिष्नन्तो भृशं वीर मम चेतो हाकम्पयन्
taṁ patantaṁ mahābāho śūla-paṭṭiśa-pāṇayaḥ | abhiṣṇantō bhṛśaṁ vīra mama ceto hy akampayan ||
ಮಹಾಬಾಹು ವೀರನೇ! ಅವನು ಬೀಳುತ್ತಿರುವಾಗ ಶತ್ರುಸೈನಿಕರು ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶೂಲಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಪಟ್ಟಿಶಗಳನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿದು ಅವನ ಮೇಲೆ ಮರುಮರು ಕ್ರೂರವಾಗಿ ಹೊಡೆದರು; ಆ ನಿರ್ದಯ ದಾಳಿ ನನ್ನ ಹೃದಯವನ್ನು ನಡುಗಿಸಿತು।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral shock caused by striking a warrior even as he falls—an image that questions restraint and righteousness in combat, and underscores how adharma in war disturbs even divine witnesses.
Vāyudeva describes a scene where a combatant is falling, yet enemy soldiers armed with spears and axes continue to attack him repeatedly; witnessing this, Vāyudeva’s heart trembles at the cruelty.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Mahabharata (Gita Press) in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.