Mahabharata — Drona Parva, Shloka 35

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 107: Karṇa–Bhīma Saṃmarda

Arrow-storm Engagement

Devanagari script

अशोभत महाबाहुर्गाण्डीवं विक्षिपन्‌ धनु:

Transliteration

aśobhat mahābāhur gāṇḍīvaṁ vikṣipan dhanuḥ

Translation

സഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു— മഹാബാഹുവായ അർജുനൻ ഗാണ്ഡീവധനുസ്സിനെ വീശിക്കൊണ്ട് യുദ്ധസന്നദ്ധനായി ദീപ്തനായി തിളങ്ങി।

Word by Word

• अशोभत: shone, appeared splendid
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ्
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, 3, Singular

• महाबाहुः: the mighty-armed (one)
• महाबाहुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गाण्डीवम्: the Gāṇḍīva (bow)
• गाण्डीवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीव
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विक्षिपन्: brandishing, wielding
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-क्षिप्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Gāṇḍīva (bow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ideal of kṣatriya-dharma: disciplined readiness and courage in the face of a righteous duty, even when the context is morally weighty and tragic.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a key warrior—implicitly Arjuna, identified by the Gāṇḍīva—appearing radiant as he handles his bow, indicating immediate preparation for combat in the Drona Parva battle sequence.