Mahabharata 7.16.37 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 16, Shloka 37

Adhyāya 16: Saṃśaptaka-vrata and the Diversion of Arjuna (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६)

Devanagari script

ततस्तु सिंहसेनस्य शिर: कायात्‌ सकुण्डलम्‌ | व्याप्रदत्तस्य चाक्रम्य भल्लाभ्यामाहरद्‌ बली

Transliteration

tatastu siṁhasenasya śiraḥ kāyāt sakuṇḍalam | vyāpradattasya cākramya bhallābhyām āharad balī ||

Translation

అనంతరం బలవంతుడైన ద్రోణుడు దాడిని కొనసాగిస్తూ, భల్ల అనే రెండు బాణాలతో సింహసేనుడు మరియు వ్యాప్రదత్తుడి కుండలాలతో అలంకృతమైన శిరస్సులను దేహాల నుండి తెగదెంపులు చేసెను.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: true

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु
• Form: true

• सिंहसेनस्य: of Siṃhasena
• सिंहसेनस्य: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंहसेन
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कायात्: from the body
• कायात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• सकुण्डलम्: with earrings (ear-ornamented)
• सकुण्डलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकुण्डल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• व्याप्रदत्तस्य: of Vyāpradatta
• व्याप्रदत्तस्य: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याप्रदत्त
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: true

• आक्रम्य: having attacked/assailed
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-क्रम्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada

• भल्लाभ्याम्: with two bhalla-arrows
• भल्लाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भल्ल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• आहरत्: he took away/struck off (carried off)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हृ
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• बली: the mighty one
• बली: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Siṁhasena
• Vyāpradatta
• bhalla (arrow)
• kuṇḍala (earrings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the harsh ethical landscape of war: once battle is joined, martial duty and tactical execution dominate, and life can be ended instantly by skill and force. It invites reflection on the cost of violence and the grim inevitability that accompanies kṣatriya warfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a powerful warrior advances and, using two bhalla arrows, cuts off the earring-adorned heads of the fighters Siṁhasena and Vyāpradatta, indicating a decisive and lethal moment in the ongoing battle.