Mahabharata 9.13.4 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 4

Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation

Devanagari script

भीमसेनो रणे शल्यं शल्यभूतं पराक्रमे । एकेन विद्ध्वा बाणेन पुनर्विव्याध सप्तभि:,भीमसेनने रणभूमिमें अपने पराक्रमके लिये कण्टकरूप शल्यको पहले एक बाणसे घायल करके फिर सात बाणोंसे बींध डाला

Transliteration

bhīmaseno raṇe śalyaṃ śalyabhūtaṃ parākrame | ekena viddhvā bāṇena punar vivyādha saptabhiḥ ||

Translation

สัญชัยกล่าวว่า—ในสนามรบ ภีมเสนยิงศัลยะ ผู้เป็นดุจหนามขวางวีรภาพของตน ด้วยศรดอกเดียว แล้วจึงซ้ำอีกด้วยศรเจ็ดดอก

Word by Word

• भीमसेनः: Bhimasena
• भीमसेनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• शल्यं: Shalya
• शल्यं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शल्यभूतं: having become a thorn/obstacle
• शल्यभूतं: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शल्यभूत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पराक्रमे: in (his) prowess/valor
• पराक्रमे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• एकेन: with one
• एकेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• विद्ध्वा: having pierced/wounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• बाणेन: with an arrow
• बाणेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• विव्याध: pierced
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सप्तभिः: with seven (arrows)
• सप्तभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Śalya
• arrows (bāṇa)
• battlefield (raṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness and decisive action in the face of a powerful impediment. In the ethical frame of epic warfare, a kṣatriya is expected to meet threats directly with skill and courage, even when the opponent is formidable.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Bhīma, in battle, first wounds Śalya with a single arrow and then strikes him again with seven more, portraying an intense exchange where Bhīma seeks to check Śalya’s effectiveness on the field.