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Shloka 16

द्रोणेन केकय-चेदि-वीरवधः

Droṇa’s engagements with the Kekayas and Cedis

युद्धकुशल योद्धाओंने बहुत-से शस्त्रोंद्वारा उन्हें अनेक बार घायल कर दिया और वे क्षत-विक्षत हो बारंबार विचित्र मण्डलाकार गतिसे विचरण करते रहे ।। हतानां वाजिनागानां रथानां च नरै: सह । उपरिष्टादतिक्रान्ता: शैलाभानां सहस्रश:,रणभूमिमें सहस्रों पर्वताकार हाथी, घोड़े, रथ और पैदल मनुष्य मरे पड़े थे। उन सबको अर्जुनके घोड़े ऊपर-ही-ऊपर लाँघ जाते थे

yuddhakuśalair yoddhaiḥ bahubhiḥ śastrair enam anekadhā kṣatam akurvan; sa kṣata-vikṣataḥ punar punar vicitra-maṇḍalākāra-gatyā raṇe vicacāra. hatānāṁ vājīnām gajānāṁ rathānāṁ ca naraiḥ saha, upariṣṭād atikrāntāḥ śailābhānāṁ sahasraśaḥ.

قال سانجيا: إنّ المحاربين المهرة ضربوه مرارًا وتكرارًا بأسلحة كثيرة، فأصابوه بجراح متتابعة. وقد تمزّق جسده وتشوّه، ومع ذلك ظلّ يجول في ساحة القتال بحركات دائرية غريبة. وحولَه كانت ترقد آلاف الجثث—خيلٌ، وفيلةٌ كأنها جبال، وعرباتٌ حربية، ومشاةٌ مع رجالهم. وفوق تلك الأكوام كانت خيول أرجونا تقفز من علٍ متجاوزةً إياها، فيما كانت المعركة تضطرم.

हतानाम्of the slain
हतानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootहत (√हन्)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
वाजिनाम्of horses
वाजिनाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवाजिन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
गजानाम्of elephants
गजानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootगज
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
रथानाम्of chariots
रथानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
नरैःwith men/warriors
नरैः:
Saha (co-participant)
TypeNoun
Rootनर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
सहtogether with
सह:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसह
उपरिष्टात्from above/overhead
उपरिष्टात्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootउपरिष्टात्
अतिक्रान्ताःhaving overstepped/leapt over
अतिक्रान्ताः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअतिक्रान्त (अति+√क्रम्)
FormPast (perfective), Plural, Masculine, Nominative
शैलाभानाम्of mountain-like (ones)
शैलाभानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootशैलाभ (शैल+आभ)
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
सहस्रशःby thousands/in thousands
सहस्रशः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसहस्रशस्

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
A
Arjuna
H
horses (Arjuna’s team)
E
elephants
C
chariots
F
foot-soldiers/men
B
battlefield (raṇabhūmi)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the ethical weight of war: even when martial skill succeeds, it unfolds amid overwhelming destruction of humans and animals. It implicitly invites reflection on kṣatriya-duty performed in battle and the tragic, irreversible cost that accompanies victory and prowess.

Sañjaya describes a fierce moment where a warrior is repeatedly wounded and moves in circling patterns on the battlefield. The ground is strewn with thousands of dead horses, elephants, chariots, and soldiers, and Arjuna’s horses are depicted leaping over these fallen bodies as the combat continues.