Shloka 30

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya-saṃvādaḥ; madhyāhna-saṅgrāma-pravṛttiḥ

Dhritarashtra–Sanjaya dialogue and the midday battle escalation

Devanagari script

खड्गमादाय सुशितं विमलं च शरावरम्‌ | श्येनवद्‌ व्यचरत्‌ क्रुद्ध/ शिखण्डी शत्रुतापन:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | khaḍgam ādāya suśitaṁ vimalaṁ ca śarāvaram | śyenavad vyacarat kruddhaḥ śikhaṇḍī śatrutāpanaḥ ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣ ଖଡ୍ଗ ଓ ନିର୍ମଳ ଢାଳ ହାତେ ଧରି, ଶତ୍ରୁତାପକ ଶିଖଣ୍ଡୀ କ୍ରୋଧରେ ଶ୍ୟେନ ପକ୍ଷୀ ପରି ରଣଭୂମିରେ ସବୁଦିଗେ ବିଚରିଲା।

Word by Word

• खड्गम्: sword
• खड्गम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• सुशितम्: well-sharpened
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुशित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विमलम्: spotless, bright
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• शरावरम्: shield
• शरावरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरावर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• श्येनवत्: like a hawk
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्येनवत्
• Form: तद्धितान्त अव्यय (वत् = like)

• व्यचरत्: moved about, roamed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चर्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शिखण्डी: Shikhandi
• शिखण्डी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शत्रुतापनः: scorcher of enemies
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रुतापन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śikhaṇḍī
• sword (khaḍga)
• shield (śarāvara)
• hawk (śyena)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfast martial readiness: even amid chaos, a warrior must act decisively. At the same time, it implicitly warns that anger (krodha) fuels violence—an ethical tension repeatedly explored in the Mahābhārata.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Śikhaṇḍī taking a sharp sword and bright shield and ranging about the battlefield in fury, compared to a hawk’s swift, circling movement—signaling close-quarters combat after chariot-based fighting is disrupted.