Shloka 35

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 54 — Missile-Exchange and Tactical Redirection

Arjuna, Aśvatthāman, Karṇa

Devanagari script

अथास्य बाहूरुशिरोललार्टं ग्रीवां वराड़्ानि परावमर्दी । शितैश्न बाणैर्युधि निर्बिभेद गाण्डीवमुक्तैरशनिप्रकाशै:

Transliteration

athāsya bāhūruśirolalāṭaṁ grīvāṁ varāṅgāni parāvamardī | śitaiḥ bāṇair yudhi nirbibheda gāṇḍīvamuktair aśaniprakāśaiḥ ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ତାପରେ ଶତ୍ରୁମାନଙ୍କର ମାନକୁ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦନ କରୁଥିବା ବୀର ଧନଞ୍ଜୟ ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ଗାଣ୍ଡୀବରୁ ଛୁଟିଥିବା, ବଜ୍ର ସମ ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣ ବାଣଦ୍ୱାରା କର୍ଣ୍ଣଙ୍କ ଦୁଇ ଭୁଜା, ଜଂଘା, ମସ୍ତକ, ଲଲାଟ, ଗ୍ରୀବା ଓ ଅନ୍ୟ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଅଙ୍ଗଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ବିଦ୍ଧ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अस्य: of him (of that one)
• अस्य: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, singular

• बाहू: two arms
• बाहू: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु
• Form: masculine, accusative, dual

• ऊरू: two thighs
• ऊरू: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु
• Form: masculine, accusative, dual

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• ललाटम्: forehead
• ललाटम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाट
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• ग्रीवाम्: neck
• ग्रीवाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रीवा
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• वराङ्गानि: excellent limbs
• वराङ्गानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराङ्ग
• Form: neuter, accusative, plural

• परावमर्दी: crusher (of foes), one who humiliates
• परावमर्दी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परावमर्दिन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• शितैः: with sharp
• शितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शित
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, plural

• बाणैः: arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध्
• Form: feminine, locative, singular

• निर्बिभेद: pierced, split
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद्
• Form: perfect (liṭ), third, singular, parasmaipada

• गाण्डीवमुक्तैः: released from the Gāṇḍīva (bow)
• गाण्डीवमुक्तैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गाण्डीव-मुक्त
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, plural

• अशनिप्रकाशैः: shining like a thunderbolt
• अशनिप्रकाशैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशनि-प्रकाश
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arjuna (Dhanañjaya)
• Karna
• Gāṇḍīva (bow)
• bāṇa (arrows)
• yuddha (battle)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined martial action: a warrior’s strength is portrayed as legitimate when used to subdue hostile aggression and arrogance in a righteous battle context, aligning prowess with duty rather than cruelty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), described as a crusher of enemies, strikes Karna in battle with sharp arrows shot from the Gāṇḍīva, piercing multiple vital and prominent body parts, emphasizing Arjuna’s dominance in that exchange.