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Shloka 5

Duryodhana Seeks Droṇa’s Counsel; Imperative to Protect Jayadratha; Pāñcāla Assault on Duryodhana

अष्टाविंशांस्तु तान्‌ बाणानस्तान्‌ विप्रेक्ष्य निष्फलान्‌ । अब्रवीत्‌ परवीरघ्न: कृष्णो<र्जुनमिदं वच:,अर्जुनके चलाये हुए उन अद्वाईस बाणोंको निष्फल हुआ देख शत्रुवीरोंका संहार करनेवाले श्रीकृष्णने उनसे इस प्रकार कहा--

aṣṭāviṁśāṁs tu tān bāṇān astān viprekṣya niṣphalān | abravīt paravīraghnaḥ kṛṣṇo 'rjunam idaṁ vacaḥ ||

अष्टाविंशांस्तु तान् बाणानस्तान् विप्रेक्ष्य निष्फलान्। अब्रवीत् परवीरघ्नः कृष्णोऽर्जुनमिदं वचः॥

अष्टाविंशान्twenty-eight
अष्टाविंशान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअष्टाविंशत्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
तान्those
तान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
बाणान्arrows
बाणान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootबाण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अस्तान्shot/let fly
अस्तान्:
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (क्षेपणे)
Formक्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Accusative, Plural
विप्रेक्ष्यhaving seen/observed
विप्रेक्ष्य:
TypeVerb
Rootवि + प्रेक्ष्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund)
निष्फलान्fruitless/ineffective
निष्फलान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootनिष्फल
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अब्रवीत्said/spoke
अब्रवीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
परवीरघ्नःslayer of enemy-heroes
परवीरघ्नः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootपरवीरघ्न
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कृष्णःKrishna
कृष्णः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकृष्ण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अर्जुनम्Arjuna
अर्जुनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअर्जुन
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
इदम्this
इदम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
वचःspeech/words
वचः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवचस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
K
Kṛṣṇa
A
Arjuna
A
arrows (bāṇa)

Educational Q&A

When an action proves ineffective, a warrior-leader must reassess with clarity and accept timely guidance. The verse highlights strategic discernment and the role of wise counsel (Kṛṣṇa) in restoring purposeful action rather than stubborn repetition.

Arjuna has released twenty-eight arrows, but they do not achieve their intended effect. Observing this, Kṛṣṇa speaks to Arjuna, preparing to advise him on what to do next in the unfolding battle.