Shloka 316

नारायणास्त्र-शमनं द्रौणि-प्रहारश्च

Pacification of the Nārāyaṇāstra and Drauni’s Renewed Assault

Devanagari script

न्यषीदत रथोपस्थे शिखण्डी रथिनां वर: । समरभूमिमें यशस्वी कृपाचार्यद्वारा बाणोंसे आच्छादित किया जाता हुआ रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ शिखण्डी रथके पिछले भागमें शिथिल होकर बैठ गया

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | nyaṣīdata rathopasthe śikhaṇḍī rathināṃ varaḥ | samarabhūmau yaśasvī kṛpācārya-dvārā bāṇaiḥ ācchādyamānaḥ rathināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ śikhaṇḍī rathasya paścima-bhāge śithilaḥ bhūtvā upāviśat |

Translation

సంజయుడు పలికెను—యుద్ధభూమిలో ఆచార్య కృపుడు వేసిన బాణాలతో చుట్టుముట్టబడి, రథయోధులలో శ్రేష్ఠుడైన యశస్వి శిఖండీ శక్తిహీనుడై రథాసనంపై కూలి, రథపు వెనుక భాగం వైపు శిథిలంగా కూర్చున్నాడు.

Word by Word

• न्यषीदत्: sat down / sank down
• न्यषीदत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद् (सीद्)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• रथोपस्थे: on the chariot-seat
• रथोपस्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथोपस्थ (रथ + उपस्थ)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• शिखण्डी: Śikhaṇḍī
• शिखण्डी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथिनाम्: of chariot-warriors
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वरः: best, excellent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Shikhandi (Śikhaṇḍī)
• Kripacharya (Kṛpācārya / Ācārya Kṛpa)
• battlefield (samara-bhūmi)
• chariot (ratha)
• arrows (bāṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical realism of war: fame and rank do not guarantee invulnerability. Endurance, composure, and disciplined skill determine survival in battle, reminding readers that pride must yield to humility before circumstance and effort.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports that Śikhaṇḍī, struck and overwhelmed by a dense shower of arrows from Ācārya Kṛpa, loses strength and sits down slackly toward the rear of his chariot, indicating a momentary collapse or weakening amid the fight.