Shloka 27

वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च

The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel

Devanagari script

विव्याध सोमदत्तस्तु सात्वतं नवभि: शरै:

Transliteration

vivyādha somadattas tu sātvataṁ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ

Translation

विव्याध सोमदत्तस्तु सात्वतं नवभिः शरैः।

Word by Word

• विव्याध: pierced, struck
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट), 3, singular, परस्मैपदम्

• सोमदत्तः: Somadatta
• सोमदत्तः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोमदत्त
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• तु: but, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• सात्वतम्: the Sātvata (Krishna/Vrishni hero)
• सात्वतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्वत
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• नवभिः: with nine
• नवभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन्
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, plural

• शरैः: arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

Speaker

सयजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Somadatta
• Sātvata (Sātyaki)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the relentless momentum of war and the kṣatriya ethos of direct engagement—actions are decisive and immediate, and each strike advances the unfolding consequences of conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Somadatta shoots and wounds the Sātvata warrior with nine arrows, marking a sharp exchange in the ongoing battle scene.