Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 65

शल्यस्य पाण्डवसेनापीडनम् — Śalya’s Assault on the Pāṇḍava Host

with Omens and Bhīma’s Counter

Devanagari script

आपूर्यमाणा निशितै: शरै: पाण्डवचोदितै: । हतप्रवीरा विध्वस्ता वार्यमाणा समन्तत:

Transliteration

āpūryamāṇā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ pāṇḍava-coditaiḥ | hata-pravīrā vidhvastā vāryamāṇā samantataḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：“在般度诸子的逼迫下，那支军队被锋利的箭矢贯穿充塞，仿佛满身皆箭。其前锋豪杰尽被诛戮，行列崩散；纵然四面挣扎欲守，终究被驱退而溃裂。”

Word by Word

• आपूर्यमाणाः: being filled/covered
• आपूर्यमाणाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आपूर्य (धातु: आपॄ/आपूर् + य)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• निशितैः: with sharp
• निशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

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

• पाण्डवचोदितैः: impelled/shot by the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवचोदितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाण्डव-चोदित
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• हतप्रवीराः: whose foremost heroes were slain
• हतप्रवीराः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत-प्रवीर
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• विध्वस्ताः: shattered, routed
• विध्वस्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विध्वस्त
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• वार्यमाणाः: being checked/held back
• वार्यमाणाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वार्य (धातु: वॄ/वार् + य)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pāṇḍavas
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the fragility of martial power: when leadership (pravīra) falls and cohesion breaks, even a vast force collapses. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring warning that adharma-driven conflict culminates in ruin, while disciplined resolve and coordinated effort determine outcomes in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the opposing army is being overwhelmed by sharp arrows launched under the Pāṇḍavas’ impetus. Its leading warriors are killed, formations are shattered, and despite attempts to resist from all sides, it is being driven into disarray.