Shloka 231

Devanagari script

शिखण्डिनं द्वादशभि: पराभिन- च्छितै: शरै: षड़भिरथोत्तमौजसम्‌ । त्रिभिर्युधामन्युमवि ध्यदाशुगै- स्त्रिभिस्त्रिभि: सोमकपार्षतात्मजौ

Transliteration

śikhaṇḍinaṃ dvādaśabhiḥ parābhina-cchitaiḥ śaraiḥ ṣaḍbhir athottamaujasaṃ | tribhir yudhāmanyum avidhyad āśugais-tribhis tribhiḥ somakapārṣatātmajau ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ସେ ଦ୍ୱାଦଶ ବାଣରେ ଶିଖଣ୍ଡୀଙ୍କୁ ଆଘାତ କଲା; ଷଡ୍‌ବାଣରେ ପ୍ରବଳ ଉତ୍ତମୌଜାଙ୍କୁ ଭେଦିଲା। ପରେ ଦ୍ରୁତ ଶରରେ ଯୁଧାମନ୍ୟୁଙ୍କୁ ତିନି ବାଣରେ ଆହତ କଲା, ଏବଂ ସେହିପରି—ତିନି ଓ ତିନି—ସୋମକ ଓ ପାର୍ଷତଙ୍କ ପୁତ୍ରମାନଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଭେଦିଲା।

Word by Word

शिखण्डिनम्Śikhaṇḍin (as object)

द्वादशभिःwith twelve

पराभिनच्छितैःwell/fully pierced (i.e., striking through)

शरैःwith arrows

षड्भिःwith six

अथthen/and then

उत्तमौजसम्Uttamaujā (as object)

त्रिभिःwith three

युधामन्युम्Yudhāmanyu (as object)

अविध्यत्pierced/struck

आशुगैःswift (arrows)

त्रिभिःwith three

सोमकपार्षतात्मजौthe two sons of Somaka and Pārṣata

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Śikhaṇḍin

Uttamaujā

Yudhāmanyu

Somaka

Pārṣata

arrows (śara)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the grim kṣatriya ethic of the battlefield: prowess is shown through disciplined, proportionate targeting of key opponents. It underscores how war reduces moral agency to tactical necessity—heroes are measured by control, accuracy, and resolve amid violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a rapid sequence of strikes in the battle: a warrior (implied from context) shoots Śikhaṇḍin with twelve arrows, Uttamaujā with six, then hits Yudhāmanyu with three swift arrows, and also wounds the two sons of Somaka and Pārṣata with three arrows each.