Shloka 11

Karṇa’s Camp-Council Discourse: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament, Sañjaya’s Counsel, and Karṇa’s Request for Śalya

Book 8, Chapter 22

Devanagari script

तत्पश्चात्‌ दुःशासनने युद्धस्थलमें तुरंत ही तीखी तलवार घुमाकर सहदेवपर दे मारी; फिर उस पराक्रमी वीरने दूसरा धनुष लेकर उसपर बाणका संधान किया ।।

Transliteration

tam āpatantaṃ sahasā nistriṃśaṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | pātayāmāsa samare sahadevo hasann iva ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Sau đó, Duhśāsana lập tức vung thanh kiếm sắc trên chiến địa và ném thẳng về phía Sahadeva; rồi dũng sĩ ấy lại cầm một cây cung khác, giương tên nhắm vào chàng. Nhưng khi lưỡi kiếm bất ngờ lao tới, Sahadeva—điềm tĩnh như thể đang mỉm cười—đã dùng những mũi tên sắc bắn hạ nó xuống đất giữa trận tiền. Cảnh ấy nêu bật kỷ luật của võ nghệ: ngay trong cơn hung hãn chết chóc, sự bình thản và đáp trả chuẩn mực của Sahadeva kìm giữ hỗn loạn và giữ vững đạo của chiến binh—đánh có chừng mực, có mục đích.

Word by Word

• तम्: him/that (sword)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आपतन्तम्: falling/coming down (towards him)
• आपतन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Participle
• Root: आपतत् (शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त, √पत्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा

• निस्त्रिंशम्: sword
• निस्त्रिंशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निस्त्रिंश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• निशितैः: with sharp
• निशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

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

• पातयामास: caused to fall / felled
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पत् (णिच् causative: पातय-)
• Form: Perfect (Periphrastic), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• सहदेवः: Sahadeva
• सहदेवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहदेव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हसन्: laughing
• हसन्: Karta
• Type: Participle
• Root: हसत् (शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त, √हस्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• सहदेव (Sahadeva)
• दुःशासन (Duhśāsana)
• निस्त्रिंश (sword)
• शर (arrows)
• समर/युद्धस्थल (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores self-mastery in conflict: a warrior’s excellence is not mere aggression but controlled, timely action. Sahadeva’s ‘as if smiling’ composure suggests steadiness of mind (dhairya) and disciplined adherence to the ethics of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duhśāsana launches or hurls a sharp sword toward Sahadeva. Sahadeva immediately counters by shooting sharp arrows that knock the sword down onto the battlefield, neutralizing the threat before it can strike him.