Mahabharata 7.118.38 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 118, Shloka 38

भूरिश्रवसः गर्हा, प्रायोपवेशः, सात्यकिकृतशिरच्छेदः

Bhūriśravas’s Censure, Prāyopaveśa, and Sātyaki’s Beheading

Devanagari script

सुवर्णपुडुखं विशिखं समाधाय च सात्यकि:

Transliteration

suvarṇapuḍukhaṁ viśikhaṁ samādhāya ca sātyakiḥ |

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ସାତ୍ୟକି ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣପଙ୍ଖ ଯୁକ୍ତ ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣ ବାଣକୁ ଧନୁଷରେ ସଂଯୋଜନ କରି ପ୍ରହାର ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ ହେଲା।

Word by Word

• सुवर्णपुडुखम्: golden quiver
• सुवर्णपुडुखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्णपुडुख
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विशिखम्: arrow
• विशिखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशिख
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समाधाय: having fixed/placed (having fitted/put on)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-धा
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

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

• सात्यकिः: Sātyaki
• सात्यकिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्यकि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Sātyaki
• viśikha (arrow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in action: disciplined readiness and focused intent in battle, while the larger narrative context reminds the listener that even rightful duty in war carries ethical gravity and consequence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Sātyaki taking up and setting a golden-feathered arrow, signaling his immediate preparation to shoot in the ongoing combat of the Droṇa Parva.