Shloka 19

Devanagari script

श्रोत्रभुवाच नेमे बाणास्तरिष्यन्ति मामलर्क कथंचन । तवैव मर्म भेत्स्यन्ति ततो हास्यसि जीवितम्‌

Transliteration

śrotrabhūvāca neme bāṇāstariṣyanti mām alarka kathaṃcana | tavaiva marma bhetsyanti tato hāsyasi jīvitam ||

Translation

ສຣົດຣະພູ ປະກາດວ່າ: «ອະລະກະ ລູກສອນເຫຼົ່ານີ້ຈະບໍ່ອາດຜ່ານຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ເລີຍ. ມັນຈະໄປຖືກແຕ່ຈຸດສຳຄັນຂອງເຈົ້າເອງ; ແລ້ວເຈົ້າຈະຖືກພາກຊີວິດ».

Word by Word

श्रोत्रभुःŚrotrabhū (proper name)

उवाचsaid

नnot

इमेthese

बाणाःarrows

तरिष्यन्तिwill cross/overcome

माम्me

अलर्कO Alarka

कथंचनin any way; at all

तवof you/your

एवindeed; only

मर्मvital spot

भेत्स्यन्तिwill pierce/split

ततःthen; thereafter

हindeed (emphatic particle)

अस्यof him/this

असिyou are / you will be

जीवितम्life; living

Speaker

अलर्क उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śrotrabhū

Alarka

arrows (bāṇāḥ)

vital points (marma)

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 underscores accountability in conflict: a warrior’s intent is not abstract—actions aimed at another’s vulnerable points carry irreversible consequences. It highlights the ethical gravity of choosing lethal force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrotrabhū addresses Alarka directly, asserting that Alarka’s arrows will not get past him; instead, Śrotrabhū will strike Alarka’s vital points, resulting in Alarka’s death. It is a moment of direct martial challenge and intimidation.