Shloka 19

Duryodhana’s Anxiety, Bhīṣma’s Reassurance, and Renewed Mobilization (दुर्योधनचिन्ता–भीष्मप्रत्याश्वासन–सेनानिर्गमनम्)

Devanagari script

आकर्णप्रहितैस्ती3्ष्णैवेंगवद्धिरजिद्वागै: । अविध्यत्‌ तूर्णमव्यग्र: कुरुराज॑ महोरसि

Transliteration

ākarṇaprahitaiḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ vegavaddhir ajidvāgaiḥ | avidhyat tūṇam avyagraḥ kururājaṃ mahorasi ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：他以满弓所发的锐箭——疾如风，势不可当——迅速贯穿了俱卢王宽阔的胸膛，而自身仍沉着坚定，毫不慌乱。

Word by Word

• आकर्णप्रहितैः: shot up to the ear (i.e., fully drawn and released)
• आकर्णप्रहितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकर्ण-प्रहित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• तीक्ष्णैः: sharp
• तीक्ष्णैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• वेगवत्भिः: swift, impetuous
• वेगवत्भिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेगवत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अजिह्वागैः: having no tongue (i.e., straight/true-flying arrows)
• अजिह्वागैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजिह्वाग
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अविध्यत्: pierced, struck
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3, Singular

• तूर्णम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्णम्

• अव्यग्रः: unagitated, unconfused
• अव्यग्रः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यग्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कुरुराजः: the king of the Kurus
• कुरुराजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महोऱसि: on the broad chest
• महोऱसि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत्-उरस्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kuru king (Kururāja)
• arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the warrior ideal of steadiness (avyagra) and disciplined focus amid chaos. Ethically, it reflects the Mahabharata’s tension: excellence and composure can be virtues, yet in war they serve destructive ends—inviting reflection on duty, consequence, and the cost of conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a combat moment where a warrior, using fully drawn and swift arrows, rapidly strikes the Kuru king in the chest, doing so with calm concentration rather than agitation.