Shloka 22

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 125: Duryodhana’s despair and vow after Jayadratha’s fall (जयद्रथवधे दुर्योधनविलापः)

Devanagari script

सतुतंप्रतिविव्याध पञज्चभिरनिशितै: शरै:

Transliteration

sūtaṁ pratīvīvyādha pañcabhir aniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Translation

सञ्जय उवाच—स तं सूतं पञ्चभिरनिशितैः शरैः प्रतिविव्याध।

Word by Word

• सूतम्: the charioteer
• सूतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रति: towards/against
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

• विव्याध: pierced/wounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पञ्चभिः: with five
• पञ्चभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun (Numeral)
• Root: पञ्चन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (numeral usage), Instrumental, Plural

• अनिशितैः: sharp, whetted
• अनिशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिशित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

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

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• sūta (charioteer)
• śara (arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a grim ethical insight of warfare: once violence escalates, even non-combatant functionaries like charioteers become vulnerable, showing how adharma can spread through the battlefield by normalizing harm beyond the primary duelists.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Sañjaya’s report of the battle, a warrior shoots and pierces the opposing charioteer with five sharp arrows, indicating an aggressive tactical move aimed at disabling the enemy’s mobility and command on the field.