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Shloka 39

Somadatta’s Kṣātra-Dharma Accusation; Night Combat, Māyā, and the Fall of Ghaṭotkaca

Droṇa-parva, Adhyāya 131

ततो व्यायच्छतामस्त्रै: पृथक्‌ पृथगजिद्ाागै: । मृदुपूर्व तु राधेयो दृढपूर्व तु पाण्डव:,तदनन्तर वे दोनों वीर एक-दूसरेपर पृथक्‌-पृथक्‌ सीधे जानेवाले बाणोंका प्रहार करने लगे। राधानन्दन कर्ण मृदुतापूर्वक बाण चलाता था और पाण्डुनन्दन भीमसेन कठोरतापूर्वक

tato vyāyacchatām astraiḥ pṛthak pṛthag ajihmagaiḥ | mṛdu-pūrvaṁ tu rādheyo dṛḍha-pūrvaṁ tu pāṇḍavaḥ ||

قال سنجيا: ثم شرع البطلان يضرب أحدهما الآخر بالسلاح—كلٌّ منهما يرسل سهامًا مستقيمة الطيران تتوالى تباعًا. كان كرنة ابن رادها يطلق نِباله بقدرٍ من التؤدة وضبط النفس، بينما كان الباندڤا (بهيمسينا) يردّ بصلابة وقوة قاسية.

ततःthen/thereupon
ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
FormAvyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from/then')
व्यायच्छताम्the two extended/shot forth
व्यायच्छताम्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवि + आ + यम् (यच्छति)
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd person dual, parasmaipada
अस्त्रैःwith weapons/missiles
अस्त्रैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअस्त्र
FormNeuter, instrumental, plural
पृथक्separately
पृथक्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपृथक्
FormAvyaya
पृथक्each in turn/individually
पृथक्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपृथक्
FormAvyaya
अजित-आगैःwith irresistible/unyielding shafts (lit. 'unconquered missiles')
अजित-आगैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअजित + आग (आगः)
FormMasculine, instrumental, plural
मृदु-पूर्वम्gently/with mildness first
मृदु-पूर्वम्:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootमृदु + पूर्व
FormNeuter, accusative, singular (adverbial use)
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
FormAvyaya
राधेयःRadheya (Karna)
राधेयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराधेय
FormMasculine, nominative, singular
दृढ-पूर्वम्firmly/with hardness first
दृढ-पूर्वम्:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootदृढ + पूर्व
FormNeuter, accusative, singular (adverbial use)
तुand/but
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
FormAvyaya
पाण्डवःthe Pandava (here: Bhima, per context)
पाण्डवः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपाण्डव
FormMasculine, nominative, singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
K
Karṇa (Rādheya)
B
Bhīmasena (Pāṇḍava)
A
arrows (ajihmagāḥ śarāḥ implied)
W
weapons (astra)

Educational Q&A

Even within the same duty of battle, conduct can vary: one may act with restraint (mṛdu), another with force (dṛḍha). The verse highlights ethical nuance—intensity and self-control are both modes of action, and the narrative invites reflection on intention and temperament in righteous or obligatory conflict.

Sañjaya reports that Karṇa and Bhīma exchange volleys of straight-flying arrows. Karṇa’s shooting is described as comparatively restrained, while Bhīma’s response is described as more forceful and hard-hitting.