Mahabharata 7.170.17 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 170, Shloka 17

द्रौणिप्रतिज्ञा–नारायणास्त्रवर्णनम्

Drauṇi’s Vow and the Description of the Nārāyaṇāstra

Devanagari script

रुक्मपुड्खीै: प्रसन्नाग्रै: शरैश्छिन्नतनुच्छदौ । रुधिरीघपरिक्लिन्नौ व्यभ्राजेतां महामृथे

Transliteration

rukmapuṅkhaiḥ prasannāgraiḥ śaraiś chinnatanuccadau | rudhiraughapariklinnaū vyabhrājetāṃ mahāmṛdhe ||

Translation

Санджая сказал: В той великой битве их доспехи были изрублены стрелами с золотым оперением и ясными, острыми наконечниками; омоченные потоками крови, оба воина всё же сияли странным, грозным блеском — являя, что и среди ярости войны стойкая решимость и долг кшатрия способны проявиться как мрачное сияние.

Word by Word

• रुक्मपुङ्खैः: with golden-feathered (arrows)
• रुक्मपुङ्खैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुक्मपुङ्ख
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• प्रसन्नाग्रैः: with clear/sharp-pointed (arrows)
• प्रसन्नाग्रैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्नाग्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शरैः: by arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• छिन्नतनुच्छदौ: having their body-coverings (armor) cut
• छिन्नतनुच्छदौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्नतनुच्छद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• रुधिरीघपरिक्लिन्नौ: soaked all over with blood
• रुधिरीघपरिक्लिन्नौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुधिरीघपरिक्लिन्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• व्यभ्राजेताम्: they shone forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्राज्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), Third, Dual, Atmanepada, Active

• महामृधे: in the great battle
• महामृधे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामृध
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• arrows (śarāḥ)
• armor/cuirass (tanuccada)
• great battle (mahāmṛdha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the paradox of dharma in war: even when bodies are wounded and armor is torn, a warrior’s steadfastness in duty (kṣatriya-dharma) can appear as a severe, awe-inspiring brilliance—reminding that ethical responsibility in conflict is inseparable from the reality of suffering it entails.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two combatants in a fierce duel: their armor has been shredded by sharp, golden-fletched arrows, and though they are soaked in blood, they still ‘shine’ on the battlefield—an image emphasizing the intensity of the fight and the unbroken resolve of the fighters.