Shloka 11

Chapter 51: Saṃdhyākāla-saṃhāra

Evening Withdrawal after Arjuna’s Counter-Advance

Devanagari script

पूर्णायतविसृष्टेन सम्यक्‌ प्रणिहितेन च । ध्वजमेकेन विव्याध जाम्बूनदपरिष्कृतम्‌,तत्पश्चात्‌ धनुषको अच्छी तरह खींचकर पूरे मनोयोगसे चलाये हुए एक बाणके द्वारा उनके सुवर्ण-भूषित ध्वजको भी छेद डाला

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | pūrṇāyatavisṛṣṭena samyak praṇihitena ca | dhvajam ekena vivyādha jāmbūnadapariṣkṛtam |

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Chỉ bằng một mũi tên—kéo căng hết mức, buông ra đúng độ và ngắm với sự vững vàng hoàn hảo—chàng đã xuyên thủng lá cờ hiệu được trang sức bằng vàng Jāmbūnada. Cảnh ấy làm nổi bật sự tinh luyện kỷ luật của người chiến binh: sức mạnh được điều ngự bởi tự chủ, và kỹ nghệ được vận dụng với chủ ý rõ ràng giữa trọng lực đạo lý của chiến trường.

Word by Word

• पूर्णायत: fully stretched (to full length)
• पूर्णायत: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्णायत (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• विसृष्टेन: released, shot
• विसृष्टेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विसृष्ट (वि+सृज्, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• सम्यक्: properly, well
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)

• प्रणिहितेन: aimed/placed (with attention)
• प्रणिहितेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणिहित (प्र+नि+धा, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)

• ध्वजम्: banner, flag
• ध्वजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एकेन: with one (single)
• एकेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• विव्याध: pierced
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध् (वि+व्यध्)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• जाम्बूनद: with gold (jāmbūnada-gold)
• जाम्बूनद: Karana
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: जाम्बूनद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• परिष्कृतम्: adorned, decorated
• परिष्कृतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिष्कृत (परि+कृ, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• dhvaja (battle-standard/banner)
• jāmbūnada (gold)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in warfare, effectiveness is portrayed as arising from disciplined control—full effort (pūrṇāyata) joined to precise attention (samyak praṇihita). The verse highlights mastery governed by focus rather than impulsive violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a warrior shooting a single, fully drawn and carefully aimed arrow that pierces an opponent’s banner decorated with fine Jāmbūnada gold—an emblematic strike demonstrating prowess and dominance on the battlefield.