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Shloka 23

कर्णभीमयुद्धम्

Karna–Bhīma Combat Report

अथीनं छिन्नधन्वानं त्वरमाणो महारथ: । शरैरनेकसाहसी: पूरयामास सर्वतः,धनुष काट देनेके पश्चात्‌ महारथी द्रोणाचार्यने बड़ी उतावलीके साथ कई हजार बाणोंकी वर्षा करके उन्हें सब ओरसे ढक दिया

athainaṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ tvaramāṇo mahārathaḥ | śarair anekasāhasīḥ pūrayāmāsa sarvataḥ ||

قال سنجيا: ثم إنّ ذلك المحارب العظيم على العربة، وقد أسرع في فعله، أمطره—وقد حُرم قوسه—بسهام لا تُحصى، حتى ملأه وغطّاه من كل جانب. ويُبرز المشهد اندفاع الحرب القاسي، حيث تُستغلّ الغلبة في الحال، ولا يُمنَح الساقط إلا قليلًا من الفسحة.

अथthen
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
एनम्him
एनम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
छिन्न-धन्वानम्whose bow was cut off
छिन्न-धन्वानम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootछिन्नधन्वन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
त्वरमाणःhastening
त्वरमाणः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootत्वर्
FormPresent (Shatru participle), Singular, Masculine, Nominative
महा-रथःthe great chariot-warrior
महा-रथः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहारथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शरैःwith arrows
शरैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
अनेक-साहस्रैःby many thousands (of them)
अनेक-साहस्रैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootअनेकसाहस्र
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
पूरयामासfilled, covered
पूरयामास:
TypeVerb
Rootपूर्
FormPeriphrastic Perfect, 3rd, Singular
सर्वतःon all sides
सर्वतः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसर्वतः

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
A
a great chariot-warrior (mahārathaḥ)
A
arrows (śarāḥ)
B
bow (dhanus)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how quickly advantage is exploited in war: once an opponent is disarmed, the attacker intensifies pressure. Ethically, it reflects the harsh reality of kṣatriya warfare, where compassion is often overridden by strategic urgency and the drive to secure victory.

Sañjaya describes a great warrior rapidly pelting a foe whose bow has been cut, surrounding him with a dense rain of arrows from all directions, effectively covering and overwhelming him.