Shloka 85

Devanagari script

दशभिर्दशभिश्नैको नाराचैर्निहतो गज: । न चासौ धार्तराष्ट्राणां श्रूयते निनदस्तथा

Transliteration

daśabhir daśabhiś caiko nārācair nihato gajaḥ | na cāsau dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ śrūyate ninadas tathā ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：以十又十支锋利的那罗遮（nārāca）箭，一名战士便射倒一头大象。然而在持国之子一方，却听不见那般震响的战吼——无人以豪勇之声应和此功。

Word by Word

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशन्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशन्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• एकः: one (man/warrior)
• एकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नाराचैः: with iron arrows
• नाराचैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाराच
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• निहतः: slain/struck down
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, kta (past passive participle)

• गजः: the elephant
• गजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

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

• असौ: that (one), he/it
• असौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: असौ (दूरवाचक सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धार्तराष्ट्राणाम्: of the Dhārtarāṣṭras (Kauravas)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्तराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• श्रूयते: is heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Lat, Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Passive (karmani-prayoga)

• निनदः: roar/sound
• निनदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: निनद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: thus/so, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhārtarāṣṭras (Kauravas)
• gaja (elephant)
• nārāca (arrow/weapon)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how battlefield prowess should ideally be matched by collective resolve: a striking feat occurs, yet the Dhārtarāṣṭra side shows no corresponding rallying roar, suggesting faltering morale and the ethical importance (for kṣatriyas) of steadfast courage and unity in crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a single fighter kills an elephant using twenty nārāca arrows (ten and ten). Despite this dramatic act, the Kaurava host (Dhārtarāṣṭras) does not produce the expected loud acclamation or war-cry, indicating a subdued or shaken response.