Mahabharata · 7.84.18–19
॥
Devanāgarī
सो ऽतिविद्धो बलवता राक्षसेन्द्रो महाबलः ॥
व्यसृजत् सायकांस् तूर्णं स्वर्णपुङ्खाञ् शिलाशितान् ॥
ते शरा नतपर्वाणो विविशू राक्षसं तदा ॥
रुषिताः पन्नगा यद्वद् गिरिम् उग्रा महाबलाः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
so 'tividdho balavatā rākṣasendro mahābalaḥ ||
vyasṛjat sāyakāṃs tūrṇaṃ svarṇapuṅkhāñ śilāśitān ||
te śarā nataparvāṇo viviśū rākṣasaṃ tadā ||
ruṣitāḥ pannagā yadvad girim ugrā mahābalāḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
सः अतिविद्धः बलवताsaḥ atividdhaḥ balavatāhe, sorely pierced by the mighty one; he, heavily pierced by the powerful one
राक्षसेन्द्रः महाबलःrākṣasendraḥ mahābalaḥlord of the rakshasas, mighty; ruler of the rakshasas, powerful
व्यसृजत् सायकान् तूर्णम्vyasṛjat sāyakān tūrṇamlet loose arrows swiftly; shot forth arrows at once
स्वर्णपुङ्खान् शिलाशितान्svarṇapuṅkhān śilāśitāngold-feathered, honed on stone; with golden shafts, sharpened on stone
ते शराः नतपर्वाणःte śarāḥ nataparvāṇaḥthose smooth-jointed arrows; those [arrows] with sleek shafts
विविशुः राक्षसम् तदाviviśuḥ rākṣasam tadāentered the rakshasa then; pierced into the rakshasa then
रुषिताः पन्नगाः यद्वत्ruṣitāḥ pannagāḥ yadvatas enraged serpents; as furious serpents
गिरिम् उग्राः महाबलाःgirim ugrāḥ mahābalāḥ[enter] a mountain, fierce, mighty; [enter] a mountain, fierce, powerful
Translation
He, the mighty lord of the rakshasas, sorely pierced by the powerful [Ghatotkacha], swiftly let loose arrows gold-feathered and honed on stone. Those smooth-jointed arrows then entered the rakshasa [Ghatotkacha], as fierce, mighty, enraged serpents entering a mountain.
Version
d021f6fc223d · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:02:23 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The arrows enter Ghatotkacha "as furious serpents [enter] a mountain": the image conveys both the fury of the blow and the immovability of the one who receives it — the mountain stands, though serpents strike into it. It is telling that steadfastness is likened to a mountain, which the fiercest venom stings but does not shake. The verse teaches that one firm in spirit is like a mountain: the blows of untruth pierce him but do not overthrow his foundation; he takes the wounds while remaining unmoved in his service.