Shloka 386

Devanagari script

भल्लाभ्यां भृशतीक्ष्णाभ्यां चिच्छेद धनुषी तयो: । महाराज! तब आचार्य द्रोणने क्रोध और अमर्षसे युक्त हो दो अत्यन्त तीखे भल्लोंद्वारा उन दोनोंके धनुष काट डाले

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | bhallābhyāṃ bhṛśatīkṣṇābhyāṃ ciccheda dhanuṣī tayoḥ | mahārāja! tadā ācāryo droṇaḥ krodha-amārṣa-yuktaḥ dvābhyām atyantatīkṣṇābhyāṃ bhallābhyāṃ tayor dhanuṣī chittvā ||

Translation

సంజయుడు పలికెను—మహారాజా! అప్పుడు క్రోధామర్షములతో యుక్తుడైన ద్రోణాచార్యుడు రెండు అత్యంత తీక్ష్ణమైన భల్లశరములతో వారి ఇద్దరి ధనుస్సులను కోసివేశెను।

Word by Word

• भल्लाभ्याम्: with two arrows (bhallas)
• भल्लाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भल्ल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• भृशतीक्ष्णाभ्याम्: with two very sharp (ones)
• भृशतीक्ष्णाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृशतीक्ष्ण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• चिच्छेद: cut / severed
• चिच्छेद: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• धनुषी: the two bows
• धनुषी: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Dual

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhritarashtra (Mahārāja)
• Drona
• bhalla arrows
• bows (dhanuṣ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how formidable skill in warfare can be intensified by inner states like anger and indignation; ethically, it invites reflection on the danger of krodha (wrath) in decision-making, even when one is highly capable and acting within the battlefield role.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Drona, provoked and enraged, uses two razor-sharp bhalla arrows to cut the bows of two opposing warriors, disabling their ability to fight effectively for the moment.