Mahabharata · 7.74.19–20
॥
Devanāgarī
ताव् अर्जुनो महाराज नवभिर् नतपर्वभिः ॥
आजघान रणे क्रुद्धो मर्मज्ञो मर्मभेदिभिः ॥
ततस् तौ तु शरौघेण बीभत्सुं सहकेशवम् ॥
आच्छादयेतां संरब्धौ सिंहनादं च नेदतुः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāv arjuno mahārāja navabhir nataparvabhiḥ ||
ājaghāna raṇe kruddho marmajño marmabhedibhiḥ ||
tatas tau tu śaraugheṇa bībhatsuṃ sahakeśavam ||
ācchādayetāṃ saṃrabdhau siṃhanādaṃ ca nedatuḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
तौ अर्जुनः महाराजtau arjunaḥ mahārājathose two, Arjuna, O great king; those two, Arjuna, O sovereign
नवभिः नतपर्वभिःnavabhiḥ nataparvabhiḥwith nine [arrows] of smooth joints; with nine of even edges
आजघान रणे क्रुद्धःājaghāna raṇe kruddhaḥstruck in battle, enraged; struck in the fight, enraged
मर्मज्ञः मर्मभेदिभिःmarmajñaḥ marmabhedibhiḥa knower of vital points, with [arrows] piercing them; a knower of vital points, striking into them
ततः तौ तु शरौघेणtataḥ tau tu śaraugheṇathen those two, with a torrent of arrows; then those two, with a torrent of arrows
बीभत्सुम् सहकेशवम्bībhatsum sahakeśavamBibhatsu together with Keshava; Bibhatsu together with Keshava
आच्छादयेताम् संरब्धौācchādayetām saṃrabdhaucovered [showered], enraged; showered, enraged
सिंहनादम् च नेदतुःsiṃhanādam ca nedatuḥand raised a lion's roar; and raised a lion's roar
Translation
Those two, O great king, Arjuna, enraged, a master of vital points, struck in battle with nine arrows of smooth joints, piercing their weak spots. Then those two, in fury, showered Bibhatsu together with Keshava with a torrent of arrows, and raised a lion's roar.
Version
35451e14d8ea · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:52:56 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Arjuna is 'marmajñaḥ,' a knower of vital points: his skill lies in precision, not in force. The enemies answer with a downpour and a lion's roar. The contrast is telling: exact knowledge against fury and noise. The verse teaches that mastery strikes precisely, not loudly: one who knows the weak points strikes with few blows, while fury squanders torrents; and in spiritual battle, victory belongs not to the loud onslaught of passions but to precise discernment, which strikes at the very root.