Shloka 16

Devanagari script

सो35तिविद्धो महेष्वासो5सम्भ्रान्त इव संयुगे । भल्लेन शितधारेण चिच्छेदास्य पुनर्धनु:,युद्धस्थलमें अत्यन्त घायल होकर भी महाथधनुर्धर द्रोणने बिना किसी घबराहटके तीखी धारवाले भल्लसे पुनः उनका धनुष काट दिया

Transliteration

so 'tividdho maheṣvāso 'sambhrānta iva saṁyuge | bhallena śitadhāreṇa ciccheda asya punaḥ dhanuḥ ||

Translation

సంజయుడు అన్నాడు—అత్యంతంగా గాయపడినప్పటికీ మహాధనుర్ధరుడైన ద్రోణుడు యుద్ధంలో ఏమాత్రం కలత చెందనట్టుగా నిలిచాడు; తీక్ష్ణధార గల భల్లబాణంతో మళ్లీ అతని ధనుస్సును చీల్చివేశాడు।

Word by Word

सःhe

अतिविद्धःpierced severely / grievously wounded

महेष्वासःgreat archer

असम्भ्रान्तःunconfused / unagitated

इवas if

संयुगेin battle

भल्लेनwith a bhalla-arrow

शितधारेणsharp-edged

चिच्छेदcut / severed

अस्यof him / his

पुनःagain

धनुःbow

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Droṇa

bhalla (arrow)

bow (dhanuḥ)

battlefield (saṁyuga)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadiness of mind and disciplined skill under pressure: even when wounded, a warrior who remains unshaken can act decisively. Ethically, it reflects the harsh demands of kṣatriya-dharma in war—where composure and effectiveness are prized, even amid violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the midst of battle, Droṇa has been badly struck, yet he does not lose control. Using a sharp bhalla arrow, he again cuts down his opponent’s bow, disabling the enemy’s ability to fight effectively.