Shloka 43

Śalya’s Objection to Sārathya and Duryodhana’s Conciliation (शल्यमन्यु-प्रशमनम् / Sārathyāṅgīkāra)

Devanagari script

व्यायुधं चैनमालक्ष्य शरै: संनतपर्वभि:

Transliteration

vyāyudhaṃ cainam ālakṣya śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ

Translation

三阇耶说道：“见他已失兵刃，他们便以节处弯曲精良的箭矢攒射——此举凸显战场上冷酷的乘隙而攻：弱者成了靶子，勇武与不公之利的界线也在此受拷问。”

Word by Word

• vi-āyudham: weaponless, without weapons
• vi-āyudham: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āyudha
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca

• enam: him
• enam: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: idam (enad-pronoun)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ālakṣya: having noticed/observed
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√lakṣ
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• saṃnata-parvabhiḥ: with (arrows) having bent/curved joints/knots
• saṃnata-parvabhiḥ: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃnata-parvan
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a moral tension in warfare: when a fighter is disarmed, attacking him may secure advantage but raises questions about righteous conduct (dharma) and the standards of honorable combat.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that, upon noticing a warrior in a weaponless state, opponents shoot him with well-made arrows—indicating a moment where the battle turns on exploiting an enemy’s vulnerability.