Mahabharata 7.82.14–17

Jayadratha-vadha-parva (The Outcome of the Duels)7.82.14–17

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Mahabharata · 7.82.14–17

॥

Devanāgarī

वीरधन्वा ततः क्रुद्धो धृष्टकेतोः शरासनम् ॥
द्विधा चिच्छेद भल्लेन प्रहसन्न् इव भारत ॥
तद् उत्सृज्य धनुश् छिन्नं चेदिराजो महारथः ॥
शक्तिं जग्राह विपुलां रुक्मदण्डाम् अयस्मयीम् ॥
तां तु शक्तिं महावीर्यां दोर्भ्याम् आयम्य भारत ॥
चिक्षेप सहसा यत्तो वीरधन्वरथं प्रति ॥
स तया वीरघातिन्या शक्त्या त्व् अभिहतो भृशम् ॥
निर्भिन्नहृदयस् तूर्णं निपपात रथान् महीम् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

vīradhanvā tataḥ kruddho dhṛṣṭaketoḥ śarāsanam ||
dvidhā ciccheda bhallena prahasann iva bhārata ||
tad utsṛjya dhanuś chinnaṃ cedirājo mahārathaḥ ||
śaktiṃ jagrāha vipulāṃ rukmadaṇḍām ayasmayīm ||
tāṃ tu śaktiṃ mahāvīryāṃ dorbhyām āyamya bhārata ||
cikṣepa sahasā yatto vīradhanvarathaṃ prati ||
sa tayā vīraghātinyā śaktyā tv abhihato bhṛśam ||
nirbhinnahṛdayas tūrṇaṃ nipapāta rathān mahīm ||

Word-by-word

SanskritIASTMeaning

वीरधन्वा ततः क्रुद्धःvīradhanvā tataḥ kruddhaḥViradhanvan then, enraged; Viradhanvan then, furious

धृष्टकेतोः शरासनम्dhṛṣṭaketoḥ śarāsanamDhrishtaketu's bow; the bow of Dhrishtaketu

द्विधा चिच्छेद भल्लेनdvidhā ciccheda bhallenacut in two with a broad-headed [arrow]; severed in two with a bhalla

प्रहसन् इव भारतprahasan iva bhārataas though laughing, O Bharata; as if smiling, O descendant of Bharata

तत् उत्सृज्य धनुः छिन्नम्tat utsṛjya dhanuḥ chinnamcasting aside that severed bow; having flung down that shattered bow

चेदिराजः महारथःcedirājaḥ mahārathaḥthe king of Chedi, the great warrior; the king of Chedi, the mahartha

शक्तिम् जग्राह विपुलाम्śaktim jagrāha vipulāmseized a huge spear; grasped an immense dart

रुक्मदण्डाम् अयस्मयीम्rukmadaṇḍām ayasmayīmwith a golden shaft, made of iron; with a golden shaft, wrought of iron

ताम् तु शक्तिम् महावीर्याम्tām tu śaktim mahāvīryāmthat same spear, of great might; and that dart, of terrible force

दोर्भ्याम् आयम्य भारतdorbhyām āyamya bhāratahaving drawn back with both arms, O Bharata; having raised with both arms, O descendant of Bharata

चिक्षेप सहसा यत्तःcikṣepa sahasā yattaḥhurled suddenly, being intent; cast at once, having taken aim

वीरधन्वरथम् प्रतिvīradhanvaratham pratiat Viradhanvan's chariot; against Viradhanvan's chariot

सः तया वीरघातिन्याsaḥ tayā vīraghātinyāhe, by that hero-slaying; he, by that which slays heroes

शक्त्या तु अभिहतः भृशम्śaktyā tu abhihataḥ bhṛśamspear, struck violently; dart, smitten heavily

निर्भिन्नहृदयः तूर्णम्nirbhinnahṛdayaḥ tūrṇamwith heart pierced, swiftly; with heart transfixed, at once

निपपात रथात् महीम्nipapāta rathāt mahīmfell from the chariot to the ground; toppled from the chariot to the earth

Translation

Viradhanvan then, enraged, as though laughing, cut Dhrishtaketu's bow in two with a broad-headed arrow, O Bharata. Casting aside the severed bow, the king of Chedi, the great warrior, seized a huge spear with a golden shaft, made of iron. That mighty spear, drawn back with both arms, O Bharata, he hurled suddenly, taking aim, at Viradhanvan's chariot. And he, struck violently by that hero-slaying spear, his heart pierced, swiftly fell from the chariot to the ground.

Commentary

Once more the advantage proves deceptive: Viradhanvan, "prahasan iva", smiling, cuts down the enemy's bow -- and the very next instant falls himself with a pierced heart. It is telling that the smile of superiority precedes destruction: he who triumphed a moment ago is struck down in the next. The verse teaches that self-satisfied joy in battle is short-sighted; he who laughs at the enemy's shattered weapon does not know that his own hour is already numbered, for in war triumph and ruin walk side by side.

Version

92901c11e405 · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:02:22 PM UTC

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