Shloka 54

Devanagari script

तमायान्तं शरं घोरं शकुनि: शत्रुतापन:

Transliteration

tam āyāntaṃ śaraṃ ghoraṃ śakuniḥ śatrutāpanaḥ

Translation

तमायान्तं शरं घोरं शकुनिः शत्रुतापनः।

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आयान्तम्: coming, approaching
• आयान्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-या (धातु: या)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)

• शरम्: arrow
• शरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• घोरम्: terrible, dreadful
• घोरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शकुनिः: Shakuni
• शकुनिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुनि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शत्रुतापनः: enemy-scorching (one who torments enemies)
• शत्रुतापनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रुतापन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śakuni
• arrow (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the immediacy of consequences in war: actions (like releasing an arrow) rapidly become unavoidable realities for the target. It also underscores how reputation—here, Śakuni as a 'tormentor of foes'—is measured against sudden danger, reminding readers that in conflict, both strategy and personal resolve are continually tested.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates a battlefield moment in which a terrifying arrow is seen rushing toward Śakuni. The line sets up the next action—how Śakuni responds to the incoming missile—within the larger combat sequence of the Karṇa Parva.