Mahabharata 9.21.19 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 19

Adhyāya 21 — Duryodhanasya bāṇavarṣaḥ

Duryodhana’s Arrow-Storm and the Dust-Obscured Engagements

Devanagari script

तदादाय धनु: श्रेष्ठ वरिष्ठ: सर्वधन्विनाम्‌ आरोप्य च धनु: शीघ्र॑ं महावीयों महाबल:

Transliteration

tadādāya dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṃ variṣṭhaḥ sarva-dhanvinām | āropya ca dhanuḥ śīghraṃ mahāvīryo mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ସମସ୍ତ ଧନୁର୍ଧରମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ମହାବଳୀ ମହାବୀର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଯୁୟୁଧାନ ସେଇ ଉତ୍ତମ ଧନୁଷ ନେଇ ଶୀଘ୍ର ତାହାରେ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟଞ୍ଚା ଆରୋପ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• तत्: that (it)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रेष्ठम्: best, excellent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वरिष्ठः: the most excellent (one)
• वरिष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरिष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्व-धन्विनाम्: of all archers
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + धन्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• आरोप्य: having strung (it), having mounted (the string/arrow)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह्/आ-रोप् (caus. of रुह्; usage: आरोपयति)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Prior action (having strung/placed upon)

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

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र

• महावीर्यः: of great prowess
• महावीर्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावीर्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाबलः: of great strength
• महाबलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• bow (dhanuḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the Kṣatriya code where martial readiness and the defense of honor drive swift action; it also implicitly warns how wounded pride can intensify anger and escalate violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that a great warrior takes up an excellent bow and quickly strings it, preparing to re-enter the fight immediately after a provoking setback, signaling an imminent counterattack.