Shloka 118
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
Devanagari script
तमन्तरिक्षे नाराचं द्रौणिश्षिच्छेद पत्रिणा
Transliteration
tam antarikṣe nārācaṃ drauṇiś ciccheda patriṇā
Translation
तमन्तरिक्षे नाराचं द्रौणिः शिच्छेद पत्रिणा । क्षिप्रदृष्ट्या कौशलाच्च रणकौशलमदर्शयत् ॥
Word by Word
तम्him
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अन्तरिक्षेin the sky / in mid-air
अन्तरिक्षे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootअन्तरिक्ष
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
नाराचम्an iron arrow
नाराचम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनाराच
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
द्रौणिःDrauni (Ashvatthaman)
द्रौणिः:
Karta
TypeNoun (proper)
Rootद्रौणि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
चिच्छेदcut / severed
चिच्छेद:
TypeVerb
Rootछिद्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
पत्रिणाwith a feathered arrow
पत्रिणा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपत्रिन्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaA
Aśvatthāman (Drauṇi)N
nārāca (iron arrow)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how trained attention and mastery of technique can neutralize danger before it lands—suggesting that in crisis, disciplined skill and alertness are decisive, even amid the moral turbulence of war.
Sañjaya describes a combat moment: an iron missile (nārāca) flying through the air is intercepted and cut apart by Aśvatthāman using a fletched arrow, demonstrating superior archery and quick reaction.