Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 21

Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange

Chapter 55

Devanagari script

ते शरा द्विट्शरीरेषु यथैव न ससज्जिरे । द्विडनीकेषु बीभत्सोर्न ससज्जे रथस्तदा

Transliteration

te śarā dviṭ-śarīreṣu yathaiva na sasañjire | dviḍ-anīkeṣu bībhatsor na sasañje rathas tadā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Những mũi tên ấy không mắc lại trong thân thể quân thù; cũng như vào lúc đó, chiến xa của Bībhatsu (Arjuna) không hề bị vướng kẹt giữa các đội hình của địch.

Word by Word

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

• शराः: arrows
• शराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• द्विट्-शरीरेषु: in the bodies of enemies
• द्विट्-शरीरेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विट्-शरीर
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• यथा: as/just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• ससज्जिरे: stuck/embedded (they did not stick)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सञ्ज्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Ātmanepada

• द्विट्-अनीकेषु: in the enemy ranks/armies
• द्विट्-अनीकेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विट्-अनीक
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• बीभत्सोः: of Bhībhatsu (Arjuna)
• बीभत्सोः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीभत्सु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• ससज्जे: stuck/was caught (did not get stuck)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सञ्ज्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada

• रथः: chariot
• रथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तदा: then/at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bībhatsu (Arjuna)
• arrows (śarāḥ)
• chariot (rathaḥ)
• enemy bodies (dviṭ-śarīra)
• enemy armies/formations (dviḍ-anīka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined martial excellence: a warrior’s effectiveness is shown not merely by striking, but by maintaining unhindered control—arrows and chariot alike do not get ‘caught’ when skill, focus, and rightful purpose govern action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes the intensity of combat involving Arjuna (Bībhatsu): the enemy’s arrows fail to lodge effectively, and Arjuna’s chariot moves through hostile formations without being obstructed, emphasizing his dominance on the battlefield.