Mahabharata 7.116.80 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 116, Shloka 80

Śaineya’s Breakthrough and Reunion with Arjuna (शैनेयस्य समागमः)

Devanagari script

तेडपि त॑ प्रत्यविध्यन्त सप्तभि: सप्तभि: शरै:

Transliteration

te 'pi taṁ pratyavidhyanta saptabhiḥ saptabhiḥ śaraiḥ | tataḥ kruddho mahārathaḥ kṛtavarmā hasann iva samaraṅgaṇe ekēna kṣurapreṇa śikhaṇḍinaḥ dhanuś ciccheda ||

Translation

Sanjaya nói: Họ cũng bắn trả, mỗi người bảy mũi tên. Rồi Kṛtavarmā, bậc đại xa chiến, đầy phẫn nộ mà như vẫn cười, dùng một mũi tên đầu lưỡi dao cắt đứt cây cung của Śikhaṇḍin ngay giữa chiến trường.

Word by Word

• ते: they (those)
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रत्यविध्यन्त: pierced/shot at
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + व्यध्
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• सप्तभिः: with seven
• सप्तभिः: Karana
• Type: Numeral
• Root: सप्तन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सप्तभिः: with seven (each)
• सप्तभिः: Karana
• Type: Numeral
• Root: सप्तन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शरैः: arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Kṛtavarmā
• Śikhaṇḍin
• arrows (śara)
• razor-headed arrow (kṣurapra)
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• battlefield (samaraṅgaṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how anger and rivalry in war can lead to calculated tactics: instead of only injuring the opponent, a warrior may disable the opponent’s weapon, showing that power must be governed by restraint and discernment even amid conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Kṛtavarmā is struck back by multiple warriors—each hitting him with seven arrows—he responds swiftly. Laughing in a taunting manner despite his anger, he shoots a razor-headed arrow that severs Śikhaṇḍin’s bow, temporarily neutralizing him.