Shloka 5

Devanagari script

ततो भल्लै: क्षुरप्रैश्न नाराचैर्विमलैरपि । गात्राणि प्राच्छिनत्‌ पार्थ: शिरांसि च चकर्त ह

Transliteration

tato bhallaiḥ kṣurapraiś ca nārācair vimalair api | gātrāṇi prācchinat pārthaḥ śirāṃsi ca cakarta ha ||

Translation

ਤਦ ਪਾਰਥ (ਅਰਜੁਨ) ਨੇ ਭੱਲ, ਖ਼ੁਰਪ੍ਰ ਅਤੇ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਨਾਰਾਚਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਵੈਰੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਅੰਗ-ਪ੍ਰਤਿਅੰਗ ਕੱਟ ਸੁੱਟੇ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਿਰ ਵੀ ਧੜ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਖ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੇ।

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya

• भल्लैः: with bhalla-arrows
• भल्लैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भल्ल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• क्षुरप्रैः: with razor-headed arrows
• क्षुरप्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुरप्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नाराचैः: with iron arrows (nārācas)
• नाराचैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाराच
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• विमलैः: with spotless/bright (ones)
• विमलैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अपि: also, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि
• Form: Avyaya

• गात्राणि: limbs, bodies
• गात्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• प्राच्छिनत्: cut off, severed
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + छिद्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पार्थः: Pārtha (Arjuna)
• पार्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शिरांसि: heads
• शिरांसि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: Avyaya

• चकर्त: cut, chopped off
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृन्त्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ह: indeed (emphatic particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह
• Form: Avyaya

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• bhalla (arrow type)
• kṣurapra (razor-edged arrow type)
• nārāca (missile/arrow type)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the harsh reality of dharma-yuddha: a warrior may be required to act with lethal efficiency. Ethically, the emphasis is on performing one’s ordained duty (kṣatriya-dharma) without personal malice, even though the outward act is violent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Arjuna’s battlefield prowess: using different kinds of cutting and heavy arrows, he mutilates and kills opposing fighters, severing limbs and beheading them, indicating a decisive and terrifying onslaught.