Shloka 7

Adhyāya 18 — Sequential Duels and Formation Pressure

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

Devanagari script

तमविध्यत्‌ त्रिभिर्बाणैर्दन्दशूकैरिवाहिभि: । उग्रायुधसुतस्तस्य शिर: कायादपाहरत्‌

Transliteration

tam avidhyat tribhir bāṇair dandaśūkair ivāhibhiḥ | ugrāyudhasutas tasya śiraḥ kāyād apāharat |

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Con trai của Ugrāyudha bắn trúng chàng bằng ba mũi tên, như rắn độc lao tới cắn xé. Arjuna liền chém phăng đầu hắn khỏi thân—một đòn dứt khoát giữa đà tàn khốc của chiến trận.

Word by Word

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

• अविध्यत्: pierced
• अविध्यत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बाणैः: arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• दन्दशूकैः: with snakes
• दन्दशूकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्दशूक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• आहिभिः: by/with serpents
• आहिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• उग्रायुधसुतः: the son of Ugrāyudha
• उग्रायुधसुतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उग्रायुध-सुत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तस्य: of him
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कायात्: from the body
• कायात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• अपाहरत्: removed/took away
• अपाहरत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-हृ
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• Ugrāyudha
• Ugrāyudha’s son
• arrows (bāṇa)
• snakes/serpents (ahi, dandaśūka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the harsh logic of battlefield dharma: swift, skilled action and alertness are necessary for survival, and retaliation is immediate within the accepted code of warrior combat, even though the violence remains morally weighty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ugrāyudha’s son strikes Arjuna with three snake-like arrows; Arjuna answers instantly by cutting off his opponent’s head from the body.