Shloka 16

शल्यस्य पाण्डवसेनापीडनम् — Śalya’s Assault on the Pāṇḍava Host

with Omens and Bhīma’s Counter

Devanagari script

स च्छिन्नधन्वा विरथ: खड्गमादाय चर्म च

Transliteration

sa cchinnadhanvā virathaḥ khaḍgam ādāya carma ca

Translation

سنجے نے کہا—جب اس کا کمان کٹ گیا اور وہ رتھ سے محروم ہو گیا تو اس نے تلوار اور ڈھال اٹھا لی۔

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• छिन्नधन्वा: whose bow was cut/broken
• छिन्नधन्वा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्नधन्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विरथः: without a chariot; dismounted
• विरथः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• खड्गम्: sword
• खड्गम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• चर्म: shield (leather)
• चर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• bow
• chariot
• sword (khaḍga)
• shield (carma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness in one’s role: when a warrior loses his primary weapon and chariot, he must still meet the moment with courage and presence of mind, adapting his means while continuing his duty amid crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Sañjaya’s battlefield report, a combatant has his bow cut and becomes chariotless; he immediately switches to close-quarters arms by taking up a sword and a shield.