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Shloka 31

Adhyāya 111 (Book 6): Daśama-dina-saṃgrāma—Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira and the Śikhaṇḍin-Led Advance

आत्तशस्त्रो रणे यत्नाद्‌ वारयामास सायकै: । राजन! वे अस्त्र-शस्त्र लेकर पाण्डवपक्षके पाँच श्रेष्ठ महारथियोंका रफणक्षेत्रमें बाणोंद्वारा यत्नपूर्वक निवारण करने लगे ।।

āttaśastro raṇe yatnād vārayāmāsa sāyakaiḥ | rājan nānāśastrāstravarṣais tān vīryāmarṣapravīritaiḥ ||

قال سنجيا: حمل بهيشما سلاحه، أيها الملك، وسعى في ساحة القتال جاهدًا إلى كبحهم بوابلٍ من السهام. وقد دفعته الشجاعة والغيظ المتأجّج، فأمطر أولئك المحاربين شتّى الأسلحة والمقذوفات ليقيّد اندفاعهم.

आत्तशस्त्रःhaving taken up weapons
आत्तशस्त्रः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootआत्त-शस्त्र (शस्त्र)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
रणेin battle
रणे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरण
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
यत्नात्with effort / carefully
यत्नात्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootयत्न
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
वारयामासhe checked / restrained
वारयामास:
TypeVerb
Rootवृ (वारयति)
FormPerfect (Periphrastic perfect), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
सायकैःwith arrows
सायकैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसायक
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
नानाvarious / manifold
नाना:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनाना
शस्त्रास्त्रवर्षैःwith showers of weapons and missiles
शस्त्रास्त्रवर्षैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशस्त्र-अस्त्र-वर्ष
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
तान्those (men)
तान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
वीर्यामर्षप्रवेरितैःimpelled by valor and wrath
वीर्यामर्षप्रवेरितैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootवीर्य-अमर्ष-प्रवेरित
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra (rājan)
A
arrows (sāyaka)
W
weapons (śastra)
M
missiles/astrāṇi (astra)
B
battlefield (raṇa)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of disciplined exertion in war: one must act with determined effort (yatna) to restrain an advancing foe, even when driven by intense emotions like amarṣa (indignation). It implicitly contrasts duty-bound control (vāraṇa—checking) with uncontrolled rage, showing how force is framed as purposeful and strategic rather than merely violent.

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a warrior, having taken up weapons, is attempting to hold back opposing fighters on the battlefield by shooting arrows and unleashing varied weapons and missiles, propelled by valor and anger.