Shloka 34

अभिमन्युवधः

Abhimanyu’s Fall and the Battlefield Aftermath

Devanagari script

स च्छिन्नथधन्वा विरथ: स्वधर्ममनुपालयन्‌

Transliteration

sa cchinnadhanvā virathaḥ svadharmam anupālayan

Translation

ਧਨੁਸ਼ ਕੱਟਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਤੇ ਰਥ ਵੀ ਗੁਆ ਬੈਠਾ, ਤਾਂ ਵੀ ਉਹ ਆਪਣਾ ਸਵਧਰਮ ਨਿਭਾਂਦਾ ਰਿਹਾ—ਯੁੱਧ ਦੇ ਕੋਲਾਹਲ ਵਿਚ ਖ਼ਤਰੀ ਧਰਮ ਉੱਤੇ ਅਡੋਲ।

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• छिन्न: cut off, broken
• छिन्न: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• धन्वा: with (his) bow
• धन्वा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• विरथः: without a chariot, chariotless
• विरथः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्वधर्मम्: one's own duty
• स्वधर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वधर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अनुपालयन्: upholding, observing
• अनुपालयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle), Present (vartamana)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfast adherence to svadharma: even when deprived of weapons and chariot, a warrior is portrayed as continuing to act in accordance with duty, emphasizing resilience and ethical commitment under adversity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a combatant who has had his bow cut and has become chariotless, yet continues in the battle while maintaining his warrior-duty, underscoring determination despite tactical disadvantage.