Shloka 21
बभ्रुवाहन-धनंजययोः संग्रामः
Babhruvāhana and Dhanaṃjaya’s engagement at Maṇipūra
Devanagari script
ततस्ते फाल्गुनेनाजी शरै: संनतपर्वभि:
Transliteration
tataste phālgunenājau śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
Translation
ततस्ते फाल्गुनेनाजी शरैः संनतपर्वभिः।
Word by Word
ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
Formअव्ययम्
तेthey
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formपुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक)
फाल्गुनेनby Phalguna (Arjuna)
फाल्गुनेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootफाल्गुन (अर्जुन)
Formपुंलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्
अजिin battle
अजि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootअजि
Formपुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम् (वैकल्पिकं: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्)
शरैःwith arrows
शरैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशर
Formपुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्
संनतपर्वभिःwith (arrows) having well-bent joints/knots (i.e., well-made)
संनतपर्वभिः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootसंनतपर्वन्
Formपुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
P
Phālguna (Arjuna)A
arrows (śara)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 martial action: strength is not mere violence but controlled skill exercised in the proper arena of duty, reflecting the ideal of kṣatriya conduct when conflict is unavoidable.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Arjuna (Phālguna) strikes the opposing side in battle with well-made, firmly-jointed arrows, indicating an intense combat moment where Arjuna gains the upper hand through superior archery.