Shloka 34

शल्यस्य पाण्डवसेनापीडनम् — Śalya’s Assault on the Pāṇḍava Host

with Omens and Bhīma’s Counter

Devanagari script

अथान्यद्‌ धनुरादाय वेगघ्नं भारसाधनम्‌

Transliteration

athānyad dhanur ādāya vegaghnaṃ bhārasādhanam

Translation

桑阇耶说：于是他又取起另一张弓——能遏止敌军冲势、足以承受沉重拉力——准备迎接战斗的下一阶段。

Word by Word

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

• अन्यत्: another (one)
• अन्यत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage as avyaya-kriyāviśeṣaṇa)

• वेगघ्नम्: speed-destroying / checking the force
• वेगघ्नम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेगघ्न
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भारसाधनम्: a weight-bearing implement / heavy apparatus
• भारसाधनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारसाधन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• bow (dhanuḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in war, effectiveness depends on discernment and appropriateness: selecting tools and actions suited to the situation. The verse highlights competence and steadiness—qualities expected in kṣatriya conduct—rather than impulsive bravado.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a warrior (implied from context) taking up a different bow, characterized as capable of checking speed and bearing heavy strain, indicating a tactical shift or renewed readiness in the ongoing battle.