महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-7, chapter-35, verse-20

तेषामापततां वीरः पूर्वं शीघ्रमथो दृढम् ।
क्षिप्रास्त्रो न्यवधीद्व्रातान्मर्मज्ञो मर्मभेदिभिः ॥२०॥

20. teṣāmāpatatāṁ vīraḥ pūrvaṁ śīghramatho dṛḍham ,
kṣiprāstro nyavadhīdvrātānmarmajño marmabhedibhiḥ.

20. teṣām āpatatām vīraḥ pūrvam śīghram atho dṛḍham
kṣiprāstraḥ nyavadhīt vrātān marmajñaḥ marmabhedibhiḥ

20. vīraḥ kṣiprāstraḥ marmajñaḥ pūrvam śīghram atho
dṛḍham teṣām āpatatām vrātān marmabhedibhiḥ nyavadhīt

20. The hero (Arjuna), swift with his weapons and knowing vital spots, quickly and then firmly struck down the attacking hordes with arrows that pierced their vital points.

Words meanings summery:

• तेषाम् (teṣām) - of those (warriors) who were attacking (of them, of those)

• आपतताम् (āpatatām) - of the attacking (hordes) (of those approaching, of those attacking)

• वीरः (vīraḥ) - Arjuna, the hero of the battle (the hero)

• पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - first, previously

• शीघ्रम् (śīghram) - quickly, swiftly

• अथो (atho) - and then, moreover

• दृढम् (dṛḍham) - firmly, strongly

• क्षिप्रास्त्रः (kṣiprāstraḥ) - Arjuna, having swift weapons (skilled in quick shooting, swift-arrowed)

• न्यवधीत् (nyavadhīt) - struck down, killed

• व्रातान् (vrātān) - the enemy hordes (the hordes, the multitudes)

• मर्मज्ञः (marmajñaḥ) - Arjuna, who knows the vulnerable points (of his enemies) (knowing vital spots)

• मर्मभेदिभिः (marmabhedibhiḥ) - with (arrows) that pierce vital spots (with arrows piercing vital spots, piercing vital spots)

Words meanings and morphology

तेषाम् (teṣām) - of those (warriors) who were attacking (of them, of those)

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of tad

tad - that, those

Demonstrative pronoun.

Note: Refers to the attacking warriors mentioned in the previous verse.

आपतताम् (āpatatām) - of the attacking (hordes) (of those approaching, of those attacking)

(participle)

Genitive, masculine, plural of āpatat

āpatat - approaching, attacking, falling upon

Present Active Participle

From 'ā' + root 'pat' (to fall, fly, come).

Prefix: ā

Root: pat (class 1)

वीरः (vīraḥ) - Arjuna, the hero of the battle (the hero)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vīra

vīra - hero, brave man, warrior

Root: vīr (class 10)

Note: Subject of 'nyavadhīt'.

पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - first, previously

(indeclinable)

Often used adverbially.

Note: Adverbial usage.

शीघ्रम् (śīghram) - quickly, swiftly

(indeclinable)

Often used adverbially.

Note: Adverbial usage.

अथो (atho) - and then, moreover

(indeclinable)

Sandhi form of 'atha' + 'u'.

Note: Connects 'pūrvam śīghram' with 'dṛḍham'.

दृढम् (dṛḍham) - firmly, strongly

(indeclinable)

Past Passive Participle

From root dṛh (to be firm). Often used adverbially.

Root: dṛh (class 1)

Note: Adverbial usage.

क्षिप्रास्त्रः (kṣiprāstraḥ) - Arjuna, having swift weapons (skilled in quick shooting, swift-arrowed)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kṣiprāstra

kṣiprāstra - one whose weapons are swift, skilled in quick shooting

From 'kṣipra' (swift) and 'astra' (weapon).

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (kṣipra+astra)

• kṣipra – swift, quick
  adjective (masculine)
  From root kṣip (to throw, cast)
  Root: kṣip (class 6)
• astra – weapon, missile
  noun (neuter)
  From root as (to throw, cast)
  Root: as (class 4)

Note: Qualifies 'vīraḥ'.

न्यवधीत् (nyavadhīt) - struck down, killed

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, imperfect (luṅ) of nivadh

Imperfect tense form of 'ni' + root 'han' (to strike, kill), with 'vadh' as a substitute form.

Prefix: ni

Root: han (class 2)

व्रातान् (vrātān) - the enemy hordes (the hordes, the multitudes)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of vrāta

vrāta - multitude, horde, troop

Root: vṛ (class 5)

Note: Object of 'nyavadhīt'.

मर्मज्ञः (marmajñaḥ) - Arjuna, who knows the vulnerable points (of his enemies) (knowing vital spots)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of marmajña

marmajña - knowing vital parts, skilled in discernment

From 'marman' (vital spot) and 'jña' (knowing).

Compound type : upapada tatpuruṣa (marman+jña)

• marman – vital spot, vulnerable point
  noun (neuter)
  Root: mṛ (class 6)
• jña – knowing, acquainted with
  adjective (masculine)
  From root jñā (to know).
  Root: jñā (class 9)

मर्मभेदिभिः (marmabhedibhiḥ) - with (arrows) that pierce vital spots (with arrows piercing vital spots, piercing vital spots)

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of marmabhedin

marmabhedin - piercing vital spots

From 'marman' (vital spot) and 'bhedin' (piercing).

Compound type : upapada tatpuruṣa (marman+bhedin)

• marman – vital spot, vulnerable point
  noun (neuter)
  Root: mṛ (class 6)
• bhedin – breaking, piercing, splitting
  adjective (masculine)
  Agent noun from root bhid (to split, pierce).
  Root: bhid (class 7)

Note: Implies 'śaraiḥ' (with arrows) as the instrumental agent.