Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 30

Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange

Chapter 55

Devanagari script

कुरुसेनाशरीराणि पार्थेनैवाहतान्यपि । सेदु: पार्थहतानीव पार्थकर्मानुशासनात्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

kurusenāśarīrāṇi pārthenaivāhatāny api |

seduḥ pārthahatānīva pārthakarmānuśāsanāt ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—କୁରୁ-ଯୋଦ୍ଧାମାନଙ୍କ ଶରୀର, ଯଦିଓ କେବଳ ପାର୍ଥ (ଅର୍ଜୁନ)ଙ୍କ ପ୍ରହାରରେ ଆହତ ହୋଇଥିଲା, ତଥାପି ଛିନ୍ନଭିନ୍ନ ହୋଇଗଲା। ସେମାନେ ପାର୍ଥଙ୍କ ବାଣରେ ହତ ହୋଇଥିବା ପରି ପଡ଼ିଥିଲେ; କାରଣ ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ପାର୍ଥଙ୍କ କର୍ମର ବେଗ ଓ କୌଶଳ ଏପରି ଥିଲା ଯେ ତାହାର ଯଥାର୍ଥ ଉପମା ପାର୍ଥ ନିଜେ।

Word by Word

• कुरुसेनाशरीराणि: the bodies of the Kuru army
• कुरुसेनाशरीराणि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु-सेना-शरीर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• पार्थेन: by Partha (Arjuna)
• पार्थेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• इव: as if/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• आहतानि: struck/wounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हन्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural, Past passive participle (क्त)

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• सेदुः: they lay down/fell
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Plural

• पार्थहतानि: killed by Partha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थ-हत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural, Past passive participle (क्त)

• इव: as if/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• पार्थकर्मानुशासनात्: because of/owing to Partha's deed/command (i.e., his action/feat)
• पार्थकर्मानुशासनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ-कर्म-अनुशासन
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• Kuru army (Kaurava warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how disciplined mastery of action (karma) in one’s rightful role—here, a kṣatriya’s battlefield duty—can be so effective that its results appear decisive even without explicit mention of killing; excellence in action carries ethical weight when aligned with one’s responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Virāṭa episode’s battle scene, the narrator describes Kaurava soldiers struck by Arjuna’s arrows: their bodies are so shattered that they lie as though already dead, highlighting Arjuna’s extraordinary prowess.