Mahabharata 7.47.9 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 47, Shloka 9

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 47 — Abhimanyu’s rapid exchanges, counsel to disable his chariot-system

Devanagari script

रुक्मपुड्खैर्महावेगैराकर्णसमचोदितै: । अविध्यद्‌ दशभिर्बाणैरश्वत्थामानमार्जुनि:

Transliteration

rukmapuṅkhair mahāvegair ākarṇasamachoditaiḥ | avidhyad daśabhir bāṇair aśvatthāmānam arjuniḥ ||

Translation

അർജുനൻ വില്ലിന്റെ ഞാണിനെ ചെവിവരെ വലിച്ച്, സ്വർണ്ണപ്പക്ഷങ്ങളുള്ള മഹാവേഗ പത്തു അമ്പുകൾ പ്രയോഗിച്ച് അശ്വത്ഥാമാവിനെ കുത്തിവീഴ്ത്തി।

Word by Word

• रुक्मपुङ्खैः: with golden-feathered (arrows)
• रुक्मपुङ्खैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्मपुङ्ख
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• महावेगैः: with great speed
• महावेगैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावेग
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• आकर्णसमचोदितैः: impelled (drawn) up to the ear
• आकर्णसमचोदितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकर्णसमचोदित
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अविध्यत्: pierced/struck
• अविध्यत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

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

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अश्वत्थामानम्: Aśvatthāman
• अश्वत्थामानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थामन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अर्जुनिः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुनि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• Aśvatthāmā
• arrows (bāṇa)
• golden fletching (rukma-puṅkha)
• bowstring drawn to the ear (ākarṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined action in the midst of conflict: Arjuna’s controlled, full-draw release symbolizes focused effort and adherence to a warrior’s duty, where skill and restraint serve the demands of dharma in battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Arjuna, drawing his bow to the ear, releases ten fast, golden-fletched arrows and strikes Aśvatthāmā, marking an intense exchange between leading champions on the battlefield.