Shloka 65

Devanagari script

समाविशन्ति मर्माणि नेमे बाणा: शिखण्डिन: । अर्जुनस्य इमे बाणा नेमे बाणा: शिखण्डिन:

Transliteration

samāviśanti marmāṇi neme bāṇāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ | arjunasya ime bāṇā neme bāṇāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ ||

Translation

సంజయుడు పలికెను—మర్మస్థానాలలోకి చొచ్చుకుపోతున్న ఈ బాణాలు శిఖండివి కావు. ఇవి అర్జునుని బాణాలు; శిఖండివి కావు.

Word by Word

समाविशन्तिenter, pierce

मर्माणिvital spots, joints

नnot

इमेthese

बाणाःarrows

शिखण्डिनःof/pertaining to Shikhandin (i.e., Shikhandin's)

अर्जुनस्यof Arjuna

इमेthese

बाणाःarrows

नnot

इमेthese

बाणाःarrows

शिखण्डिनःof/pertaining to Shikhandin (i.e., Shikhandin's)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Śikhaṇḍin

Arjuna

bāṇāḥ (arrows)

marmāṇi (vital points)

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

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights discernment of true agency in morally charged action: although Śikhaṇḍin is present as a tactical front, the decisive force and responsibility for the piercing arrows is attributed to Arjuna. It invites reflection on how intention, capability, and execution determine accountability, even amid strategic arrangements.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the arrows striking the vital points are not shot by Śikhaṇḍin but by Arjuna. The statement clarifies who is actually delivering the effective blows in the ongoing battle sequence involving Śikhaṇḍin and Arjuna.