Mahabharata 9.13.16 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 16

Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation

Devanagari script

अथान्यद्‌ धनुरादाय धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिर:

Transliteration

athānyad dhanur ādāya dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ധർമ്മപുത്രൻ യുധിഷ്ഠിരൻ മറ്റൊരു വില്ലെടുത്തു.

Word by Word

• अथ: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अन्यत्: another (one)
• अन्यत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage as gerund)

• धर्मपुत्रः: son of Dharma (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• धर्मपुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmaputra)
• bow

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even a ruler known for righteousness must act with firmness in crisis; taking up “another bow” symbolizes resilience and recommitment to one’s rightful duty (dharma) rather than surrender to discouragement.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Yudhiṣṭhira picks up a different bow—implying a practical shift in the midst of battle (such as replacing a bow that failed or was set aside) and readiness to continue the combat.