Mahabharata 7.115.23 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 115, Shloka 23

धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — सात्यकि-अलम्बुसयोर्युद्धवर्णनम्

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue; Account of Sātyaki vs Alambusa

Devanagari script

निवार्य तु रणे द्रोणो युयुधानं महारथम्‌ । विव्याध निशितैर्बाणै: पञ्चभिर्मर्मभेदिभि:

Transliteration

nivārya tu raṇe droṇo yuyudhānaṃ mahāratham | vivyādha niśitair bāṇaiḥ pañcabhir marmabhedibhiḥ ||

Translation

สัญชัยกล่าวว่า—ในสมรภูมิ โทรณะสกัดมหารถี ยุยุธานะไว้ แล้วแทงด้วยศรคมกล้า ๕ ดอก อันเจาะมรรมหรือจุดสำคัญให้บาดเจ็บ.

Word by Word

• निवार्य: having restrained/stopped
• निवार्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√वृ (वारयति)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी-प्रयोगार्थ (gerund, voice-neutral)

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

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• द्रोणः: Drona
• द्रोणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• युयुधानम्: Yuyudhana (Satyaki)
• युयुधानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: युयुधान
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महारथम्: the great chariot-warrior
• महारथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विव्याध: pierced/wounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: √व्यध्
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद, narrative perfect), प्रथम, एकवचन, past (perfect)

• निशितैः: with sharp
• निशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• बाणैः: arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• पञ्चभिः: with five
• पञ्चभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• मर्मभेदिभिः: with vital-spot-piercing (arrows)
• मर्मभेदिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मर्मभेदिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
• Yuyudhāna (Sātyaki)
• arrows (bāṇa)
• vital points (marman)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the battlefield ethic of kṣatriya-dharma: a commander like Droṇa must decisively neutralize a formidable opponent. It also highlights the moral tension of war—excellence in skill (precision at vital points) is praised as prowess, yet it serves a violent end dictated by allegiance and duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Droṇa intercepts (checks) Yuyudhāna/Sātyaki in combat and wounds him by shooting five sharp arrows aimed at vital points, indicating a serious, targeted strike in the ongoing battle.