Shloka 51
Devanagari script
अपसव्यं चकाराथ माद्रीपुत्रस्तवात्मजम् । किरन् शरशतै्ष्टस्तत्र नादो महानभूत्
Transliteration
apasavyaṃ cakārātha mādrīputras tavātmajam | kiran śaraśataiṣṭas tatra nādo mahān abhūt ||
Translation
सञ्जय उवाच— अथ माद्रीपुत्रस्तवात्मजमपसव्यं चकार; शरशतैः किरन् तत्र महान्नादोऽभवत्।
Word by Word
अपसव्यम्counterclockwise (leftward)
अपसव्यम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअपसव्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
चकारdid/made
चकार:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular
अथthen
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
माद्रीपुत्रःthe son of Madri (Nakula/Sahadeva)
माद्रीपुत्रः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमाद्रीपुत्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तवyour
तव:
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
Form—, Genitive, Singular
आत्मजम्son
आत्मजम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मज
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
किरन्scattering/showering
किरन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootकॄ (किरति)
FormPresent active participle (Śatṛ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
शरशतैःwith hundreds of arrows
शरशतैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशरशत
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
नादःsound/roar
नादः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनाद
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
महान्great
महान्:
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अभूत्arose/was
अभूत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaM
Mādrīputra (Nakula)T
tava ātmaja (Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son; a Kaurava prince)Ś
śara (arrows)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 does not preach directly; it underscores how, in the dharmic tragedy of war, excellence in skill can become an instrument of overwhelming harm. It invites reflection on the ethical cost of martial prowess when deployed in fratricidal conflict.
Sañjaya reports that Nakula (Mādrī’s son) circles Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son to the left (apasavya) and unleashes a dense volley of arrows, producing a loud roar and commotion on the battlefield.