Shloka 43

भीष्मस्य अप्रतिमपराक्रमः — शिखण्डिपुरस्कृतः प्रहारः

Bhīṣma’s unmatched momentum and the assault with Śikhaṇḍin in the lead

Devanagari script

पार्थ च निशितैर्बाणैरविध्यत्‌ तनयस्तव । ततः क्रुद्धों रणे पार्थ: शरान्‌ संधाय कार्मुके

Transliteration

pārtha ca niśitair bāṇair avidhyat tanayas tava | tataḥ kruddho raṇe pārthaḥ śarān sandhāya kārmuke ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Putera tuanku menembusi Pārtha (Arjuna) dengan anak-anak panah yang tajam. Lalu Pārtha, murka di medan perang, memasang anak panah pada busurnya, bersiap membalas.

Word by Word

• पार्थ: O Partha
• पार्थ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• निशितैः: with sharp
• निशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

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

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

• तनयः: son
• तनयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

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

• क्रुद्धः: angered
• क्रुद्धः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• पार्थः: Partha (Arjuna)
• पार्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• संधाय: having fixed/placed (on the bow)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-धा
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada

• कार्मुके: on the bow
• कार्मुके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्मुक
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhritarashtra
• Partha (Arjuna)
• your son (Duryodhana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in wartime: when attacked, a warrior is expected to respond decisively. It also shows how anger can intensify conflict, making self-mastery ethically significant even amid justified retaliation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana (Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son) wounds Arjuna with sharp arrows. Arjuna becomes enraged and readies his own arrows on the bow, signaling an imminent counterattack.