Mahabharata — Drona Parva, Shloka 35

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 107: Karṇa–Bhīma Saṃmarda

Arrow-storm Engagement

Devanagari script

अशोभत महाबाहुर्गाण्डीवं विक्षिपन्‌ धनु:

Transliteration

aśobhat mahābāhur gāṇḍīvaṁ vikṣipan dhanuḥ

Translation

Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Nagningning ang mandirigmang may makapangyarihang bisig habang iwinawasiwas niya ang busog na Gāṇḍīva—ang nakahandang lakas at tindig sa labanan ay tanda ng matatag na loob ng mandirigma at ng mabigat na tungkulin ng isang kṣatriya sa gitna ng digmaang naglalagablab.

Word by Word

• अशोभत: shone, appeared splendid
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ्
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, 3, Singular

• महाबाहुः: the mighty-armed (one)
• महाबाहुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गाण्डीवम्: the Gāṇḍīva (bow)
• गाण्डीवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीव
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विक्षिपन्: brandishing, wielding
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-क्षिप्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Gāṇḍīva (bow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ideal of kṣatriya-dharma: disciplined readiness and courage in the face of a righteous duty, even when the context is morally weighty and tragic.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a key warrior—implicitly Arjuna, identified by the Gāṇḍīva—appearing radiant as he handles his bow, indicating immediate preparation for combat in the Drona Parva battle sequence.