Mahabharata 7.95.21 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 95, Shloka 21

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 95 — Sātyaki’s Breakthrough and the Routing of Allied Contingents

Devanagari script

प्रादुश्चक्रे ततः पार्थ: शाक्रमस्त्रं महारथ: । तस्मादासन्‌ सहस्राणि शराणां नतपर्वणाम्‌

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | prāduścakre tataḥ pārthaḥ śākram astraṃ mahārathaḥ | tasmād āsan sahasrāṇi śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām ||

Translation

అప్పుడు మహారథి పార్థుడైన అర్జునుడు శాక్ర (ఐంద్ర) అస్త్రాన్ని ప్రదర్శించాడు. దానినుంచి వంగిన ముడులు గల వేలాది బాణాలు బయలుదేరాయి.

Word by Word

• प्रादुः: manifestly, forth
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रादुस्

• चक्रे: made, brought forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• पार्थः: Arjuna (son of Pṛthā)
• पार्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• शाक्रम्: belonging to Śakra (Indra’s)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाक्र
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• अस्त्रम्: weapon (missile)
• अस्त्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• महारथः: great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• तस्मात्: from that (weapon)
• तस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: neuter, ablative, singular

• आसन्: were (came to be)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3, plural, Parasmaipada

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र
• Form: neuter, nominative, plural

• शराणाम्: of arrows
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• नतपर्वणाम्: having bent joints/knots (of arrows)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नतपर्वन्
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Arjuna (Pārtha)
• Indra (Śakra)
• Śākra-astra (Indra’s weapon)
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In the midst of battle, a warrior’s dharma is to respond to danger with controlled competence rather than panic. The verse highlights disciplined use of power (astra) and steadfastness in duty, supported by right counsel and loyal companionship.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna manifests Indra’s weapon (Śākra-astra), from which thousands of arrows pour forth, as he faces formidable opponents ahead. The narration (by Sanjaya) emphasizes the sudden escalation of force through a divine missile.