महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-6, chapter-43, verse-16

अथापराभ्यां भल्लाभ्यां पीताभ्यामरिमर्दनः ।
ध्वजमेकेन चिच्छेद पार्ष्णिमेकेन सारथिम् ।
अन्योन्यं च शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः क्रुद्धौ राजंस्ततक्षतुः ॥१६॥

16. athāparābhyāṁ bhallābhyāṁ pītābhyāmarimardanaḥ ,
dhvajamekena ciccheda pārṣṇimekena sārathim ,
anyonyaṁ ca śaraistīkṣṇaiḥ kruddhau rājaṁstatakṣatuḥ.

16. atha aparābhyām bhallābhyām pītābhyām
arimardanaḥ dhvajam ekena ciccheda
pārṣṇim ekena sārathim anyonyam ca śaraiḥ
tīkṣṇaiḥ kruddhau rājan tatakṣatuḥ

16. rājan,
atha arimardanaḥ pītābhyām aparābhyām bhallābhyām (madhye) ekena dhvajaṃ ciccheda,
(aparena) ekena ca pārṣṇim sārathim (ciccheda).
ca kruddhau (tau) tīkṣṇaiḥ śaraiḥ anyonyam tatakṣatuḥ.

16. Then, O king (rājaṃs), the destroyer of enemies (arimardanaḥ - Abhimanyu), using two other sharpened broad-headed arrows, cut down (Brihadbala's) banner with one and his charioteer with the other. And those two enraged warriors struck each other with sharp arrows.

Words meanings summery:

• अथ (atha) - then, next, now

• अपराभ्याम् (aparābhyām) - with two other

• भल्लाभ्याम् (bhallābhyām) - with two broad-headed arrows

• पीताभ्याम् (pītābhyām) - referring to the arrows being sharpened or gleaming (with two sharpened / polished ones)

• अरिमर्दनः (arimardanaḥ) - Abhimanyu (destroyer of enemies)

• ध्वजम् (dhvajam) - Brihadbala's banner (banner, flag)

• एकेन (ekena) - with one (arrow)

• चिच्छेद (ciccheda) - he cut down, he split

• पार्ष्णिम् (pārṣṇim) - an attribute of the charioteer, suggesting 'rear-guard' or position. Here, qualifying 'sārathim' as the charioteer (of Brihadbala). (rear, charioteer's assistant, vulnerable spot)

• एकेन (ekena) - with one (arrow)

• सारथिम् (sārathim) - Brihadbala's charioteer (charioteer)

• अन्योन्यम् (anyonyam) - each other, mutually

• च (ca) - and

• शरैः (śaraiḥ) - with arrows

• तीक्ष्णैः (tīkṣṇaiḥ) - sharp, keen

• क्रुद्धौ (kruddhau) - Abhimanyu and Brihadbala (both enraged)

• राजन् (rājan) - O king

• ततक्षतुः (tatakṣatuḥ) - they wounded each other, they struck each other

Words meanings and morphology

अथ (atha) - then, next, now

(indeclinable)

Note: Marks the beginning of a new phase of action.

अपराभ्याम् (aparābhyām) - with two other

(pronoun)

Instrumental, masculine, dual of apara

apara - other, another, subsequent

Note: Qualifies 'bhallābhyām'.

भल्लाभ्याम् (bhallābhyām) - with two broad-headed arrows

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, dual of bhalla

bhalla - broad-headed arrow, spear

Note: Instrument for the actions.

पीताभ्याम् (pītābhyām) - referring to the arrows being sharpened or gleaming (with two sharpened / polished ones)

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, dual of pīta

pīta - sharpened (from √pi), polished, yellow (from √pī)

Past Passive Participle

Derived from √pi (to sharpen) or √pī (to make yellow/drink)

Root: pi (class 9)

Note: Qualifies 'bhallābhyām'.

अरिमर्दनः (arimardanaḥ) - Abhimanyu (destroyer of enemies)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of arimardana

arimardana - destroyer of enemies, enemy-crusher

Compound of ari (enemy) + mardana (crushing, destroying)

Compound type : tatpurusha (ari+mardana)

• ari – enemy, foe
  noun (masculine)
• mardana – crushing, destroying, tormenting
  noun (neuter)
  action noun
  Derived from √mṛd (to crush)
  Root: mṛd (class 9)

Note: Subject of 'ciccheda' and implicitly for the initial action of 'tatakṣatuḥ'.

ध्वजम् (dhvajam) - Brihadbala's banner (banner, flag)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of dhvaja

dhvaja - banner, flag, standard

Note: Object of 'ciccheda'.

एकेन (ekena) - with one (arrow)

(numeral)

Note: Refers to one of the two broad-headed arrows.

चिच्छेद (ciccheda) - he cut down, he split

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, past perfect (lit) of chid

Perfect Tense, Parasmaipada, 3rd Singular

Reduplicated perfect of √chid (7th class, takes 'na' infix in present)

Root: chid (class 7)

Note: Verb for cutting the banner.

पार्ष्णिम् (pārṣṇim) - an attribute of the charioteer, suggesting 'rear-guard' or position. Here, qualifying 'sārathim' as the charioteer (of Brihadbala). (rear, charioteer's assistant, vulnerable spot)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of pārṣṇi

pārṣṇi - heel, rear, rear-guard, charioteer's assistant

Note: Qualifies 'sārathim', struck by the second arrow.

एकेन (ekena) - with one (arrow)

(numeral)

Note: Refers to the second of the two broad-headed arrows.

सारथिम् (sārathim) - Brihadbala's charioteer (charioteer)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of sārathi

sārathi - charioteer, driver

Note: Object of an implied 'ciccheda', struck by the second arrow.

अन्योन्यम् (anyonyam) - each other, mutually

(pronoun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of anyonya

anyonya - each other, mutual, reciprocal

Compound of anya (other) + anya (other)

Note: Object of 'tatakṣatuḥ'.

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects the actions.

शरैः (śaraiḥ) - with arrows

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of śara

śara - arrow

Note: Means by which they wounded each other.

तीक्ष्णैः (tīkṣṇaiḥ) - sharp, keen

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of tīkṣṇa

tīkṣṇa - sharp, keen, pungent

Note: Qualifies 'śaraiḥ'.

क्रुद्धौ (kruddhau) - Abhimanyu and Brihadbala (both enraged)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of kruddha

kruddha - angered, enraged, furious

Past Passive Participle

Derived from √krudh (to be angry)

Root: krudh (class 4)

Note: Qualifies the two implicit combatants (Abhimanyu and Brihadbala).

राजन् (rājan) - O king

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of rājan

rājan - king, ruler

Note: Addressing the narrator/listener.

ततक्षतुः (tatakṣatuḥ) - they wounded each other, they struck each other

(verb)

3rd person , dual, active, past perfect (lit) of takṣ

Perfect Tense, Parasmaipada, 3rd Dual

Reduplicated perfect of √takṣ (5th class)

Root: takṣ (class 5)

Note: Verb describing the mutual action of the two warriors.