Shloka 20

अध्याय २९: कर्णस्य शल्यं प्रति शापस्मरणं च युद्धनिश्चयः | Chapter 29: Karṇa recalls curses to Śalya and declares resolve for battle

Devanagari script

नवमं च समाधाय व्यसृजत्‌ प्राणघातिनम्‌ | दुर्योधनायेषुवरं त॑ द्रौणि: सप्तधाच्छिनत्‌

Transliteration

navamaṃ ca samādhāya vyasṛjat prāṇaghātinam | duryodhanāyeṣuvāraṃ taṃ drauṇiḥ saptadhācchinat ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：他搭上第九支夺命之箭，将那支上乘的利矢射向难敌（杜尤陀那）。然而德罗那之子阿湿婆他摩却将那支绝妙之箭斩成七段——既护佑己方，又使战局的残酷势头愈加凌厉。

Word by Word

• नवमम्: the ninth (arrow)
• नवमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• समाधाय: having set/placed (it)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-धा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), having placed/fit (on the bow)

• व्यसृजत्: he discharged/shot
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-सृज्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्राणघातिनम्: life-destroying, deadly
• प्राणघातिनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राणघातिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दुर्योधनाय: to/for Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• इषुवरम्: the excellent arrow
• इषुवरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: इषुवर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तम्: that (arrow)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्रौणिः: Drauni (Aśvatthāman)
• द्रौणिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सप्तधा: into seven parts, sevenfold
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सप्तधा

• अच्छिनत्: he cut (it)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-छिद्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• दुर्योधन (Duryodhana)
• द्रौणि / अश्वत्थामा (Drauṇi / Aśvatthāman)
• बाण / इषु (arrow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how, in war, technical prowess and vigilance can preserve a leader’s life, yet it also underscores the grim ethical reality that combat skill is exercised in the service of lethal intent; protection and destruction operate side by side.

What is happening in the narrative?

A warrior launches a ninth deadly arrow at Duryodhana, but Aśvatthāman (Drauṇi) intercepts it and slices it into seven pieces, preventing the strike from reaching its target.