Shloka 121

Devanagari script

परीतसतत्त्वा: सहसा निपेतु: किरीटिना भिन्नतनुत्रकाया: । दृढं हता: पत्रिभिरुग्रवेगै: पार्थेन भल्लैविमलै: शिताग्रै:,राजाओंके उस भयानक संग्राममें रथ, घोड़े और सारथिसहित बड़े-बड़े वीर मारे गये। सुन्दर सुनहरे रस्सोंसे कसे हुए, बड़ी-बड़ी पताकाओंवाले हाथी नाराचोंकी मारसे पीड़ित हो शक्ति और चेतना खोकर सहसा धराशायी हो गये। कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुनके भयंकर वेगवाले तीखे एवं पंखयुक्त निर्मल भल्लोंसे गहरी चोट पड़नेपर कवच और शरीर दोनोंके विदीर्ण हो जानेसे कौरव सैनिक सहसा प्राणशून्य होकर गिर जाते थे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

parītasatattvāḥ sahasā nipetuḥ kirīṭinā bhinnatanutrākāyāḥ |

dṛḍhaṃ hatāḥ patribhir ugravegaiḥ pārthena bhallair vimalaiḥ śitāgraiḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说：战士们顷刻间倒下——他们的甲胄与身躯，被戴冠的阿周那劈裂。被帕尔塔以洁净无瑕、锋利如刃、带翼而挟恐怖疾势的“婆罗”（bhalla）箭矢牢牢射杀，他们在那可怖的交锋中纷纷仆地。

Word by Word

परीतसतत्त्वाःwhose vital spirit/strength was gone; deprived of life-force

सहसाsuddenly

निपेतुःfell down

किरीटिनाby the diademed one (Arjuna)

भिन्नतनुत्रकायाःwhose bodies and armours were split

दृढम्firmly; severely

हताःslain

पत्रिभिःby feathered (arrows)

उग्रवेगैःof fierce speed

पार्थेनby the son of Pṛthā (Arjuna)

भल्लैःby bhalla-arrows

विमलैःpure; spotless

शिताग्रैःsharp-pointed

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Arjuna (Kirīṭin, Pārtha)

Bhalla arrows

Winged arrows (patri)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the stark ethical tension of dharma in war: a righteous warrior’s skill can be unwavering and decisive, yet its immediate fruit is the sudden destruction of bodies and lives. It invites reflection on responsibility, restraint, and the heavy cost borne even in duty-bound combat.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Arjuna’s devastating archery on the battlefield: with swift, sharp, feathered bhalla arrows he splits armour and bodies, causing enemy fighters to lose strength and consciousness and to fall dead at once.