Shloka 43
Devanagari script
व्यायुधं चैनमालक्ष्य शरै: संनतपर्वभि:
Transliteration
vyāyudhaṃ cainam ālakṣya śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
Translation
सञ्जय उवाच—एतं व्यायुधं दृष्ट्वा, संनतपर्वभिः शरैस्तं समन्तादभ्यवकिरन्; रणेषु दुर्बलस्योपरी हि क्रूरोऽवसरवादः प्रवर्तते।
Word by Word
vi-āyudhamweaponless, without weapons
vi-āyudham:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootāyudha
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
caand
ca:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca
enamhim
enam:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootidam (enad-pronoun)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
ālakṣyahaving noticed/observed
ālakṣya:
TypeVerb
Rootā-√lakṣ
FormAbsolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
śaraiḥwith arrows
śaraiḥ:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootśara
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
saṃnata-parvabhiḥwith (arrows) having bent/curved joints/knots
saṃnata-parvabhiḥ:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootsaṃnata-parvan
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaA
arrows (śara)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral tension in warfare: when a fighter is disarmed, attacking him may secure advantage but raises questions about righteous conduct (dharma) and the standards of honorable combat.
Sañjaya narrates that, upon noticing a warrior in a weaponless state, opponents shoot him with well-made arrows—indicating a moment where the battle turns on exploiting an enemy’s vulnerability.