Shloka 183

बभ्रुवाहन-धनंजययोः संग्रामः

Babhruvāhana and Dhanaṃjaya’s engagement at Maṇipūra

Devanagari script

शिरांसि पातयामास भल्लै: संनतपर्वभि: । साथ ही विजयकी अभिलाषा लेकर आक्रमण करनेवाले उन सैन्धव योद्धाओंके मस्तकोंको वे झुकी हुई गाँठवाले भल्लोंद्वारा काट-काटकर गिराने लगे

Transliteration

śirāṃsi pātayāmāsa bhallaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Với những mũi tên bhalla có ngạnh, phần khớp cong, chàng khiến đầu người rơi xuống—chém hạ, hết kẻ này đến kẻ khác, những chiến binh Saindhava xông lên với khát vọng chiến thắng. Đoạn này nhấn mạnh đà khốc liệt của chiến trận: tham vọng đoạt thắng gặp phải bạo lực mau lẹ, dứt khoát của một tay cung thiện nghệ.

Word by Word

• शिरांसि: heads
• शिरांसि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• पातयामास: caused to fall / felled
• पातयामास: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (पातयति, caus.)
• Form: Perfect (periphrastic), Third, Singular

• भल्लैः: with bhalla-arrows
• भल्लैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भल्ल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• संनतपर्वभिः: with (arrows) having bent/curved joints (nodes)
• संनतपर्वभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संनतपर्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Saindhava warriors
• bhalla arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the harsh ethical reality of kṣatriya warfare: the drive for victory (vijaya-abhilāṣā) leads combatants into lethal consequences, while martial skill executes swift retribution. It invites reflection on ambition and the cost of violent conflict within dharma-governed battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the midst of fighting, a warrior uses barbed bhalla-arrows to sever and drop the heads of attacking Saindhava fighters who charge forward seeking victory.