Shloka 14

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya-saṃvādaḥ; madhyāhna-saṅgrāma-pravṛttiḥ

Dhritarashtra–Sanjaya dialogue and the midday battle escalation

Devanagari script

भारद्वाजस्तु समरे मत्स्यं विव्याध पत्रिणा | ध्वजं चास्य शरेणाजौ धनुश्वैकेन चिच्छिदे,दूसरी ओर द्रोणाचार्यने मत्स्यराज विराटको युद्धमें एक बाणसे बींध डाला तथा एक बाणसे उनका ध्वज और एकसे धनुष काट डाला

Transliteration

bhāradvājastu samare matsyaṃ vivyādha patriṇā | dhvajaṃ cāsya śareṇājau dhanuś caikena cicchide ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Giữa trận tiền, Bhāradvāja (Droṇācārya) dùng một mũi tên có lông vũ xuyên trúng vua Matsya (Virāṭa); rồi ngay trên chiến địa ấy, ông bắn một phát khác chém đứt cờ hiệu của Virāṭa, và bằng một mũi tên duy nhất cắt gãy cây cung của ông.

Word by Word

• भारद्वाजः: Bharadvaja (Drona)
• भारद्वाजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारद्वाज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• मत्स्यम्: Matsya (king Virata)
• मत्स्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विव्याध: pierced/wounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पत्रिणा: with a feathered arrow
• पत्रिणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्रिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• ध्वजम्: banner/standard
• ध्वजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• अस्य: of him (of Virata)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• शरेण: with an arrow
• शरेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अजौ: in battle
• अजौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• चिच्छिदे: cut/broke
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhāradvāja (Droṇācārya)
• Matsya king Virāṭa
• arrow (śara/patriṇ)
• banner (dhvaja)
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• battlefield (samara/āja)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how, in war, mastery of weapons is used not only to wound but to neutralize an enemy’s ability to fight and lead—by striking the warrior, cutting the banner (a sign of command and morale), and severing the bow (the means of combat). It reflects the harsh logic of battlefield duty within kṣatriya-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Droṇa (called Bhāradvāja) strikes King Virāṭa of Matsya with an arrow, then shoots down his banner and cuts his bow, effectively diminishing Virāṭa’s fighting capacity and battlefield presence.