Shloka 10

Adhyāya 18 — Sequential Duels and Formation Pressure

Ulūka–Yuyutsu; Śakuni–Sutasoma; Kṛpa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna; Kṛtavarmā–Śikhaṇḍin

Devanagari script

छिन्नत्रिवेणुसंघातान्‌ हताश्चान्‌ पार्ष्णिसारथीन्‌ | विस्नस्तहस्ततूणीरान्‌ विचक्ररथकेतनान्‌

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

chinna-triveṇu-saṅghātān hatāś cān pārṣṇi-sārathīn |

visnasta-hasta-tūṇīrān vicakra-ratha-ketanān |

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Khi ấy, Arjuna dùng tên của mình khiến chiến xa quân địch tan nát—chém đứt những cụm cột triveṇu, giết ngựa cùng các hộ vệ hai bên và người đánh xe; khiến ống tên tuột khỏi tay các chiến binh. Bánh xe vỡ vụn, cờ hiệu bị quật ngã, chiến xa trở nên bất lực.

Word by Word

• छिन्न: cut, severed
• छिन्न: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद् (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• त्रिवेणु-संघातान्: clusters/bundles of three bamboos
• त्रिवेणु-संघातान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिवेणु + संघात
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• हतान्: slain
• हतान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• पार्ष्णि-सारथीन्: charioteers (and) side-guards/heel-guards
• पार्ष्णि-सारथीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्ष्णि + सारथि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विस्रस्त: slipped off, fallen away
• विस्रस्त: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्रंस् (वि + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• हस्त-तूणीरान्: quivers from (their) hands / hand-held quivers
• हस्त-तूणीरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त + तूणीर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विचक्र-रथ-केतनान्: with wheels, chariots, and banners destroyed
• विचक्र-रथ-केतनान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + चक्र + रथ + केतन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• enemy warriors
• chariots (ratha)
• horses
• charioteers (sārathi)
• flank-guards/side-protectors (pārṣṇi)
• quivers (tūṇīra)
• wheels (cakra)
• banners/standards (ketana)
• triveṇu assemblies (triveṇu-saṅghāta)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how quickly power and security collapse in war: mobility (wheels, horses), protection (guards), and prestige (banners) can be stripped away in moments. Ethically, it points to the harsh reality of kṣatriya-duty—skill used decisively—while also implying the fragility of worldly supports amid conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Arjuna’s archery devastating the opposing side: he cuts key chariot structures, kills horses and chariot personnel, dislodges quivers from warriors’ hands, and destroys chariot wheels and standards, leaving enemy chariots disabled and their formations broken.