Shloka 21

भीमसेन-धृष्टद्युम्नयोर्वाक्यं

Bhīmasena and Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s Speeches on Kṣātra-Dharma

Devanagari script

स शरैराचितस्तेन राक्षसो रणमूर्थनि

Transliteration

sa śarair āchitas tena rākṣaso raṇamūrdhani

Translation

स शरैराचितस्तेन राक्षसो रणमूर्धनि।

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• आचितः: piled up / covered / filled
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• तेन: by him / with that
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• राक्षसः: the Rakshasa (demon)
• राक्षसः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रणमूर्धनि: on the battlefield / at the head of battle
• रणमूर्धनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण-मूर्धन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• rākṣasa
• arrows (śara)
• battlefield (raṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the battlefield ethic of sustained resolve and effective action: in war, outcomes turn on disciplined execution (here, concentrated archery) rather than mere fury. It also underscores the grim reality that even formidable opponents are overcome through persistent, skillful effort.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a rākṣasa-warrior at the very front of the fighting being densely struck and covered with arrows by an unnamed combatant, indicating an intense exchange where the rākṣasa is being overwhelmed by missile fire.