Mahabharata 7.32.28 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 32, Shloka 28

Cakravyūha-saṃkalpaḥ, Saṃśaptaka-āhvānaṃ, Saubhadra-vikrīḍitam

Drona Parva, Adhyāya 32

Devanagari script

तत्राच्छिद्यत शूरस्य सखड्‌गो बाहुरुद्यतः

Transliteration

tatrācchidyata śūrasya sa-khaḍgo bāhur udyataḥ | us yuddhe eka-śūravīrasya khaḍga-sahita ūrdhva-utthitā bhujā kartitā | dvitīyasya api dhanuḥ-bāṇa-aṅkuśa-sahitā bāhuḥ khaṇḍitā | tatra ekaḥ sainikaḥ anyam āhvayati sma, anyaś ca yuddhāt vimukhaḥ bhīto dhāvati sma ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ସେଇ ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ଏକ ଶୂରବୀରର ଖଡ୍ଗ ସହିତ ଉପରକୁ ଉଠିଥିବା ଭୁଜା କାଟି ଦିଆଗଲା। ଅନ୍ୟ ଜଣଙ୍କର ମଧ୍ୟ ଧନୁ-ବାଣ ଓ ଅଙ୍କୁଶ ସହିତ ବାହୁ ଖଣ୍ଡିତ ହୋଇଗଲା। ସେଠାରେ ଜଣେ ସେନା ଅନ୍ୟଜଣକୁ ଡାକୁଥିଲା, ଆଉ ଅନ୍ୟ କେହି ଯୁଦ୍ଧରୁ ମୁହଁ ଫେରାଇ ପଳାଉଥିଲା—ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ଦେହକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଭାଙ୍ଗେ, ଧୈର୍ଯ୍ୟକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ।

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र
• Form: indeclinable (locative adverb)

• अच्छिद्यत: was cut off
• अच्छिद्यत: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद्
• Form: imperfect (laṅ), passive, 3rd person singular

• शूरस्य: of a hero/warrior
• शूरस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• स: with
• स: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स
• Form: indeclinable (preverb/particle meaning 'with')

• खड्गः: sword
• खड्गः: Sahakari
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• बाहुः: arm
• बाहुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• उद्यतः: raised / lifted up
• उद्यतः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-यत्
• Form: past passive participle (kta), masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• a warrior (unnamed)
• soldiers (unnamed)
• sword (khaḍga)
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• arrows (bāṇa)
• goad (aṅkuśa)
• battlefield (tatra / yuddha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the moral and psychological reality of war: even the brave are physically shattered, and fear can make fighters turn away. It invites reflection on kṣatriya-duty versus the tragic human cost—how violence tests resolve and exposes vulnerability.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports vivid battlefield scenes: a warrior’s raised arm is cut off while holding a sword; another’s arm is severed while bearing bow, arrows, and a goad. Amid the confusion, one soldier calls to another, while someone else abandons the fight and runs away.