Shloka 41

शकुनिवधः — Sahadeva’s Slaying of Śakuni

with Ulūka’s fall

Devanagari script

त॑ निहत्य ततः पार्थ: सुशर्माणं त्रिभि: शरै:

Transliteration

taṁ nihatya tataḥ pārthaḥ suśarmāṇaṁ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ

Translation

Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Matapos siyang mapatay, saka tinamaan ni Pārtha (Arjuna) si Suśarmā ng tatlong palaso—larawan ng mabilis at disiplinadong lakas sa gitna ng makatarungang digmaan, kung saan kapag ang tungkulin sa labanan ay nasimulan na, ang giting ay isinasagawa nang walang pag-aatubili.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• निहत्य: having slain
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• पार्थः: Partha (Arjuna)
• पार्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुशर्माणम्: Susharman
• सुशर्माणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुशर्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शरैः: arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• Suśarmā
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores kṣatriya-dharma in wartime: once battle is joined under rightful command, decisive action and disciplined skill are required, not wavering—power is exercised as duty rather than personal cruelty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, after killing an unnamed opponent (“him”), immediately turns his attention to Suśarmā and pierces him with three arrows, continuing the rapid sequence of combat in the Śalya Parva.