Shloka 2

Devanagari script

तस्य द्रोण: शितैर्बाणैस्तीक्ष्णधारैरजिद्वागै: । जीवितान्तमभिप्रेप्सुर्मर्माण्याशु जघान ह,तब द्रोणाचार्यने सीधे जानेवाले, तीखी धारसे युक्त पैने बाणोंद्वारा शीघ्रतापूर्वक भीमसेनके मर्मस्थानोंपर आघात किया। वे भीमसेनके प्राणोंका अन्त कर देना चाहते थे

Transliteration

tasya droṇaḥ śitair bāṇais tīkṣṇadhārair ajidvāgaiḥ | jīvitāntam abhiprepsur marmāṇy āśu jaghāna ha ||

Translation

तस्य द्रोणः शितैर्बाणैस्तीक्ष्णधारैरजिह्मगैः । जीवितान्तमभिप्रेप्सुर्मर्माण्याशु जघान ह ॥

Word by Word

तस्यof him/thereof

द्रोणःDrona

शितैःwith sharp

बाणैःarrows

तीक्ष्णधारैःwith keen edges (sharp-edged)

अजिद्वागैःgoing straight/true-flying (unerring)

जीवितान्तम्the end of life (death)

अभिप्रेप्सुःdesiring to obtain/aiming at

मर्माणिvital spots

आशुquickly

जघानstruck/smote

हindeed/for emphasis

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Droṇa (Droṇācārya)

Bhīmasena

arrows (bāṇa)

vital points (marma)

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

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how intention (abhiprāya) shapes action: Droṇa’s mastery is directed by a lethal resolve, showing the ethical tension in war where skill and duty can become instruments of ruthless harm. It invites reflection on how dharma in battle can be overshadowed when victory or vengeance becomes the overriding aim.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Droṇa launches a rapid, precise attack on Bhīmasena, aiming at his marmas (vital points) with extremely sharp, sure-flying arrows, explicitly intending to kill him.