Shloka 31
भीमसेन–कर्णयुद्धवर्णनम्
Description of the Bhīmasena–Karṇa Engagement
Devanagari script
सौमदत्तिं त्रिभिविंद्ध्वा शल्यं च दशभि: शरै:
Transliteration
saumadattiṁ tribhir viddhvā śalyaṁ ca daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
Translation
सौमदत्तिं त्रिभिर्विद्ध्वा शल्यं च दशभिः शरैः।
Word by Word
सौमदत्तिम्Somadatta's son (Bhūriśravas), as object
सौमदत्तिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसौमदत्ति
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
त्रिभिःwith three
त्रिभिः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootत्रि
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
विविंद्ध्वाhaving pierced
विविंद्ध्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootवि + व्यध्
FormAbsolutive (क्त्वा), Parasmaipada (usage)
शल्यंŚalya
शल्यं:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशल्य
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
दशभिःwith ten
दशभिः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootदशन्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
शरैःwith arrows
शरैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
स
सौमदत्ति (Saumadatti/Bhūriśravas)श
शल्य (Śalya)श
शर (arrows)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 underscores the battlefield ethic of disciplined action: measured, purposeful force carried out as part of one’s role and allegiance. It reflects how, in the epic’s war narrative, duty and resolve are expressed through controlled martial skill rather than impulsive violence.
In Sañjaya’s report of the fighting, a warrior (implied from the surrounding context) shoots Saumadatti with three arrows and then strikes Śalya with ten arrows, marking a swift sequence of targeted attacks within the Drona Parva battle.