महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-7, chapter-50, verse-50

कथं बाले महेष्वासे नृशंसा मर्मभेदिनः ।
स्वस्रीये वासुदेवस्य मम पुत्रेऽक्षिपञ्शरान् ॥५०॥

50. kathaṁ bāle maheṣvāse nṛśaṁsā marmabhedinaḥ ,
svasrīye vāsudevasya mama putre'kṣipañśarān.

50. katham bāle maheṣvāse nṛśaṃsāḥ marmabhedinaḥ
svasrīye vāsudevasya mama putre akṣipan śarān

50. katham nṛśaṃsāḥ marmabhedinaḥ mama putre bāle
maheṣvāse vāsudevasya svasrīye śarān akṣipan

50. How could those cruel, heart-piercing villains shoot arrows at my son, that young, great archer, the nephew of Vāsudeva (Krishna)?

Words meanings summery:

• कथम् (katham) - how (how, why, in what way)

• बाले (bāle) - at the young one (Abhimanyu) (at the child, at the young one)

• महेष्वासे (maheṣvāse) - at the great archer (Abhimanyu) (at the great archer)

• नृशंसाः (nṛśaṁsāḥ) - cruel ones, villains (cruel, wicked, villains)

• मर्मभेदिनः (marmabhedinaḥ) - who pierce vital parts (heart-piercing, striking vital parts)

• स्वस्रीये (svasrīye) - at the nephew (Abhimanyu) (at the nephew, concerning the nephew)

• वासुदेवस्य (vāsudevasya) - of Vāsudeva (Krishna) (of Vāsudeva)

• मम (mama) - my (my, of me)

• पुत्रे (putre) - at my son (Abhimanyu, referring to him as a close family member) (at the son)

• अक्षिपन् (akṣipan) - they threw, they shot (they threw, they cast)

• शरान् (śarān) - arrows

Words meanings and morphology

कथम् (katham) - how (how, why, in what way)

(indeclinable)

Note: Interrogative adverb expressing astonishment or indignation.

बाले (bāle) - at the young one (Abhimanyu) (at the child, at the young one)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of bāla

bāla - child, young boy, ignorant

Note: Refers to Abhimanyu's youth, enhancing the cruelty of the act.

महेष्वासे (maheṣvāse) - at the great archer (Abhimanyu) (at the great archer)

(adjective)

Locative, masculine, singular of maheṣvāsa

maheṣvāsa - great archer, one with a great bow

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (mahā+iṣvāsa)

• mahā – great, large, mighty
  adjective
• iṣvāsa – archer, bowman, bow
  noun (masculine)

Note: Agrees with 'bāle' and 'putre', highlighting Abhimanyu's skill even at a young age.

नृशंसाः (nṛśaṁsāḥ) - cruel ones, villains (cruel, wicked, villains)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of nṛśaṃsa

nṛśaṁsa - cruel, wicked, villainous, destructive

Note: Subject of 'akṣipan', referring to the Kaurava warriors who surrounded and killed Abhimanyu.

मर्मभेदिनः (marmabhedinaḥ) - who pierce vital parts (heart-piercing, striking vital parts)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of marmabhedin

marmabhedin - piercing the vital parts, heart-piercing, causing deep pain

Compound of 'marma' (vital part) and 'bhedin' (piercing, breaking)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (marma+bhedin)

• marma – vital part, vulnerable spot, secret
  noun (neuter)
• bhedin – piercing, breaking, causing pain
  adjective (masculine)
  Agent Noun/Adjective
  From root 'bhid'
  Root: bhid (class 7)

Note: Agrees with 'nṛśaṃsāḥ', describing the nature of the attackers or their actions.

स्वस्रीये (svasrīye) - at the nephew (Abhimanyu) (at the nephew, concerning the nephew)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of svasrīya

svasrīya - nephew, sister's son

Note: Agrees with 'bāle' and 'putre', refers to Abhimanyu.

वासुदेवस्य (vāsudevasya) - of Vāsudeva (Krishna) (of Vāsudeva)

(proper noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of vāsudeva

vāsudeva - son of Vasudeva, a name of Krishna

Note: Refers to Krishna, maternal uncle of Abhimanyu.

मम (mama) - my (my, of me)

(pronoun)

Genitive, singular of mad

mad - I, me

Note: Possessive pronoun, referring to Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

पुत्रे (putre) - at my son (Abhimanyu, referring to him as a close family member) (at the son)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of putra

putra - son, child

Note: Refers to Abhimanyu. Dhṛtarāṣṭra uses 'son' out of affection and grief, or considering him part of the broader family lineage.

अक्षिपन् (akṣipan) - they threw, they shot (they threw, they cast)

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, past imperfect (laṅ) of kṣip

Imperfect Active

3rd person plural imperfect active, from root 'kṣip'

Root: kṣip (class 6)

Note: Past tense verb, referring to the actions of the Kaurava warriors.

शरान् (śarān) - arrows

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of śara

śara - arrow, reed

Note: Object of 'akṣipan'.