Shloka 17

Devanagari script

वरायुधान्‌ पाणिगतै: शरै:ः सह क्षुरैन्यकृन्तत्‌ प्रपतन्‌ शिरांसि च

Transliteration

varāyudhān pāṇigataiḥ śaraiḥ saha kṣuraiḥ nyakṛntat prapatan śirāṃsi ca

Translation

三阇耶说道：他以亲手射出的箭矢，兼以刃如剃刀的利矢，斩落那些执持上等兵器的战士之首，使其纷纷坠地。

Word by Word

• वरायुधान्: those with excellent weapons / well-armed (men)
• वरायुधान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरायुध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पाणिगतैः: held in the hand
• पाणिगतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाणिगत
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सह: together with
• सह: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

• क्षुरैः: with razors/razor-edged (weapons)
• क्षुरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• न्यकृन्तत्: cut off / severed
• न्यकृन्तत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृत् (कृन्तति)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

• प्रपतन्: falling (down)
• प्रपतन्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शिरांसि: heads
• शिरांसि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

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

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• arrows (śara)
• razor-edged shafts (kṣura)
• heads (śiras)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the grim ethical reality of war: even extraordinary martial prowess results in devastating loss of life. It invites reflection on the cost of kṣatriya warfare and the tragic momentum that overtakes combatants once battle is joined.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a warrior’s fierce assault: using hand-shot arrows, including razor-edged shafts, he severs the heads of well-armed fighters, and their heads fall to the ground—an image emphasizing the intensity and brutality of the engagement.