Shloka 6

Irāvān-nidhana-anantaraṃ Ghaṭotkaca-nādaḥ

After Irāvān’s fall: Ghaṭotkaca’s roar and the clash with Duryodhana

Devanagari script

अथापरेण भल्‍्लेन केतुं तस्य महात्मन: । रथश्रेष्ठो रथात्‌ तूर्ण भूमौ पार्थो न्‍्यपातयत्‌

Transliteration

atha apareṇa bhallena ketuṁ tasya mahātmanaḥ | rathaśreṣṭho rathāt tūrṇaṁ bhūmau pārtho nyapātayat ||

Translation

随后，帕尔塔（Pārtha）——车战之最——又以一支阔刃之箭斩断那位大魂者的旗幡，迅疾使其自战车坠落于地。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अपरेण: with another
• अपरेण: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• भल्लेन: with a bhalla-arrow
• भल्लेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भल्ल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• केतुम्: banner/standard
• केतुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• रथश्रेष्ठः: the best of chariot-warriors
• रथश्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथश्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथात्: from the chariot
• रथात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

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

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• पार्थः: Partha (Arjuna)
• पार्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न्यपातयत्: caused to fall / struck down
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-पत् (णिच्)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Partha (Arjuna)
• mahātmā (the great-souled opponent, unnamed in the Sanskrit line)
• ketu (chariot-banner/standard)
• bhalla (broad-headed arrow)
• ratha (chariot)
• bhūmi (ground)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined martial excellence within kshatriya-dharma: victory is pursued through skill and strategy, and symbolic targets like a banner (ketu) represent morale and honor. The ethical undertone is controlled force—asserting superiority by disabling an emblem and momentum rather than indulging in needless brutality.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya narrates that Arjuna (Partha), using another bhalla arrow, cuts down the opponent’s chariot-banner and makes it fall from the chariot to the ground, marking a swift tactical and psychological blow in the battle.