Shloka 18

Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana

Devanagari script

तदपास्य थनुश्छिन्नं सूतपुत्रो महारथ:

Transliteration

tad apāsya dhanuś chinnaṃ sūtaputro mahārathaḥ

Translation

तदपास्य धनुश्छिन्नं सूतपुत्रो महारथः ॥

Word by Word

• तत्: that (it)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अपास्य: having cast away
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + अस् (धातु: अस्/अस्— 'to throw, cast')
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Active

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• छिन्नम्: cut, severed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्न (√छिद्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सूतपुत्रः: the charioteer’s son (Karna)
• सूतपुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महारथः: great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Sūtaputra (Karṇa)
• dhanuḥ (bow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness in one’s role amid adversity: when a weapon fails, a warrior does not collapse into helplessness but continues with presence of mind, reflecting the stern discipline expected in dharma as understood on the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the sūtaputra—understood as Karṇa—throws away his bow after it has been cut, indicating a turning point in the exchange where he must shift tactics and continue fighting without that weapon.