Shloka 28

Devanagari script

तथान्ये प्राद्रवन्‌ मूढा: पराड्मुखरथे<र्जुने

Transliteration

tathānye prādravan mūḍhāḥ parāṅmukharathe 'rjune | tadā kuntīkumāro 'rjunaḥ prahārakānāṃ dhvajān aśvān dhanūṃṣi bāṇāṃś ca nārācair ardhacandraiś ca śīghraṃ ciccheda ||

Translation

สัญชัยกล่าวว่า—เมื่อรถศึกของอรชุนหันไปอีกทิศหนึ่ง เหล่านักรบเการพผู้หลงมัวก็กรูกันเข้าจู่โจมเขา ครั้นนั้น อรชุนโอรสแห่งกุนตี ก็ใช้ศรนาราจและศรหัวเสี้ยวจันทร์ตัดโค่นธงรบ ม้า คันศร และลูกศรของผู้บุกเข้ามาอย่างรวดเร็ว

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्राद्रवन्: ran forth / rushed
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• मूढाः: deluded, foolish
• मूढाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पराङ्मुखे: when (it was) turned away / facing the other way
• पराङ्मुखे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराङ्मुख
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• रथे: in/on the chariot
• रथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• अर्जुने: in/with respect to Arjuna
• अर्जुने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• Kuntī
• Kaurava warriors
• chariot (ratha)
• banner/standard (dhvaja)
• horses (aśva)
• bows (dhanuḥ)
• arrows (bāṇa)
• nārāca missiles
• ardhacandra (crescent-headed) missiles

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts deluded, impulsive aggression (mūḍhatā) with disciplined skill and restraint. Arjuna responds to a sudden assault not with panic but with precise, proportionate action—an ethical ideal in kṣatriya conduct where mastery and clarity overcome confusion.

What is happening in the narrative?

As Arjuna’s chariot turns toward another direction, Kaurava fighters surge to attack him. Arjuna immediately neutralizes their offensive capacity by severing key battle elements—standards, horses, bows, and arrows—using powerful nārāca shafts and crescent-headed (ardhacandra) missiles.