Mahabharata 9.21.20 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 20

Adhyāya 21 — Duryodhanasya bāṇavarṣaḥ

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

Devanagari script

अमृष्यमाणो धनुषश्छेदनं कृतवर्मणा । कुपितो5तिरथ: शीघ्रं कृतवर्माणमभ्ययात्‌

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | amṛṣyamāṇo dhanuṣaś chedanaṃ kṛtavarmaṇā | kupito 'tirathaḥ śīghraṃ kṛtavarmāṇam abhyayāt |

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—କୃତବର୍ମା ତାଙ୍କ ଧନୁଷ କାଟିଦେଇଥିବାକୁ ସହିନପାରି, ସେଇ ଅତିରଥ ଯୁୟୁଧାନ କ୍ରୋଧିତ ହୋଇ ଶୀଘ୍ର କୃତବର୍ମାଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ଧାଇଗଲେ।

Word by Word

• अमृष्यमाणः: not enduring, unable to tolerate
• अमृष्यमाणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृष् (धातु) → अमृष्यमाण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धनुषः: of the bow
• धनुषः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• छेदनम्: cutting, severing
• छेदनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: छेदन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कृतवर्मणा: by Kṛtavarman
• कृतवर्मणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृतवर्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• कुपितः: enraged
• कुपितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुपित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अतिरथः: the great chariot-warrior (atiratha)
• अतिरथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिरथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• कृतवर्माणम्: Kṛtavarman (as object)
• कृतवर्माणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृतवर्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभ्ययात्: attacked, advanced towards
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) उपसर्ग: अभि
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kṛtavarmā
• dhanuḥ (bow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a common ethical pressure-point in war: when honor is wounded (here, the cutting of one’s bow), anger can override restraint and lead to swift retaliation. It implicitly warns how pride and rage intensify conflict and cloud judgment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that after Kṛtavarmā cuts a warrior’s bow, that warrior cannot bear the insult/damage, becomes furious, and immediately rushes to attack Kṛtavarmā.