Shloka 28
Devanagari script
ततः संधाय नाराचं रुक्मपुड्खं शिलाशितम्
Transliteration
tataḥ saṃdhāya nārācaṃ rukmapuḍkhaṃ śilāśitam
Translation
Disse Sañjaya: Então ele encaixou e mirou uma flecha nārāca—de penas douradas e afiada na pedra—e, retesando o arco, preparou-se para golpear.
Word by Word
ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
Formtrue
संधायhaving fixed/aimed (having set on the bow)
संधाय:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-धा (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-प्रयोगार्थ (gerund, voice-neutral in usage)
नाराचम्an iron arrow
नाराचम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनाराच (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
रुक्मपुड्खम्having a golden feather/shaft-end
रुक्मपुड्खम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootरुक्मपुड्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
शिलाशितम्stone-whetted, sharpened on a stone
शिलाशितम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootशिलाशित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from शिला-शा/शि? in sense 'whetted on stone')
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
स
संजय (Sañjaya)न
नाराच (nārāca arrow)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined intentionality: in the battlefield context, action is preceded by careful preparation and focus. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring emphasis that power and violence become most consequential when guided by trained control and deliberate resolve.
Sañjaya narrates a combat moment: a warrior fits and aims a formidable nārāca arrow, described as gold-feathered and stone-sharpened, signaling an imminent, serious strike in the ongoing battle.