Mahabharata 7.103.25 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 103, Shloka 25

भीमसेन-द्रोण-संग्रामः

Bhīmasena and Droṇa: Containment, Advance, and Recognition

Devanagari script

उद्धिन्नरुधिरी कृष्णौ भारद्वाजस्य सायकै: । शितैश्नितौ व्यरोचेतां कर्णिकारैरिवाचलौ

Transliteration

uddhinnarudhirī kṛṣṇau bhāradvājasya sāyakaiḥ | śitaiḥ śnitau vyarocetāṃ karṇikārair ivācalau ||

Translation

سنجے نے کہا— بھاردواج کے بیٹے درون کے تیز تیروں سے چھلنی، خون میں نہائے ہوئے شری کرشن اور ارجن یوں جگمگا رہے تھے جیسے سرخ کرنیکار پھولوں سے ڈھکے ہوئے دو پہاڑ۔

Word by Word

• उद्धिन्नरुधिरी: having blood flowing out (bleeding profusely)
• उद्धिन्नरुधिरी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्धिन्न-रुधिरिन्
• Form: Dual (m.), Nominative, Dual

• कृष्णौ: Krishna (and the other, i.e., Arjuna) / the two Krishnas
• कृष्णौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• भारद्वाजस्य: of Bharadvaja (i.e., Drona)
• भारद्वाजस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारद्वाज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सायकैः: with arrows
• सायकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शितैः: sharp
• शितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शित
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नितौ: pierced / struck
• नितौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• व्यरोचेताम्: they shone / appeared splendid
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + रुच्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Dual, Parasmaipada

• कर्णिकारैः: with karnikāra flowers (golden blossoms)
• कर्णिकारैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णिकार
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• इव: like / as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अचलौ: two mountains
• अचलौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kṛṣṇa
• Arjuna
• Droṇācārya (Bhāradvāja’s son)
• arrows (sāyaka)
• karṇikāra flowers
• mountains (acala)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness in dharma under extreme adversity: even when wounded and bleeding, the heroes do not collapse in spirit. It also ethically frames war as costly—its ‘splendor’ is inseparable from suffering—inviting reflection on duty, resilience, and the tragic beauty of valor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna after being struck by Droṇa’s sharp arrows. Their bodies are pierced and blood flows, yet they appear radiant—compared to two mountains adorned with karṇikāra blossoms—emphasizing both their grievous wounds and their undiminished presence on the battlefield.