Shloka 10

Adhyāya 18 — Sequential Duels and Formation Pressure

Ulūka–Yuyutsu; Śakuni–Sutasoma; Kṛpa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna; Kṛtavarmā–Śikhaṇḍin

Devanagari script

छिन्नत्रिवेणुसंघातान्‌ हताश्चान्‌ पार्ष्णिसारथीन्‌ | विस्नस्तहस्ततूणीरान्‌ विचक्ररथकेतनान्‌

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

chinna-triveṇu-saṅghātān hatāś cān pārṣṇi-sārathīn |

visnasta-hasta-tūṇīrān vicakra-ratha-ketanān |

Translation

Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Noon, winasak ni Arjuna ang mga karwahe ng kaaway sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga palaso—pinutol ang mga kumpol ng triveṇu na poste, pinatay ang mga kabayo at mga bantay sa gilid pati ang mga sais; at napabitaw sa kanilang mga kamay ang mga lalagyan ng palaso. Nabasag ang mga gulong at naibagsak ang mga watawat, kaya’t nawalan ng lakas ang mga karwahe.

Word by Word

• छिन्न: cut, severed
• छिन्न: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद् (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• त्रिवेणु-संघातान्: clusters/bundles of three bamboos
• त्रिवेणु-संघातान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिवेणु + संघात
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• हतान्: slain
• हतान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पार्ष्णि-सारथीन्: charioteers (and) side-guards/heel-guards
• पार्ष्णि-सारथीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्ष्णि + सारथि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विस्रस्त: slipped off, fallen away
• विस्रस्त: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्रंस् (वि + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• हस्त-तूणीरान्: quivers from (their) hands / hand-held quivers
• हस्त-तूणीरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त + तूणीर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विचक्र-रथ-केतनान्: with wheels, chariots, and banners destroyed
• विचक्र-रथ-केतनान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + चक्र + रथ + केतन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• enemy warriors
• chariots (ratha)
• horses
• charioteers (sārathi)
• flank-guards/side-protectors (pārṣṇi)
• quivers (tūṇīra)
• wheels (cakra)
• banners/standards (ketana)
• triveṇu assemblies (triveṇu-saṅghāta)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how quickly power and security collapse in war: mobility (wheels, horses), protection (guards), and prestige (banners) can be stripped away in moments. Ethically, it points to the harsh reality of kṣatriya-duty—skill used decisively—while also implying the fragility of worldly supports amid conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Arjuna’s archery devastating the opposing side: he cuts key chariot structures, kills horses and chariot personnel, dislodges quivers from warriors’ hands, and destroys chariot wheels and standards, leaving enemy chariots disabled and their formations broken.