Shloka 22

Devanagari script

नाकुलिं तु शतानीकं भूतकर्मा सभापति: । अस्यन्तमिषुजालानि यान्तं द्रोणादवारयत्‌

Transliteration

nākuliṃ tu śatānīkaṃ bhūtakarmā sabhāpatiḥ | asyantam iṣujālāni yāntaṃ droṇād avārayat ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Bhūtakarmā, der Herr der Versammlung, hielt Śatānīka aus der Linie Nakulas auf, als dieser vorrückte und Pfeilsalven wie Netze aussandte, und verhinderte, dass er Droṇa erreichte. Im Gedränge der Schlacht zeigt diese Tat die Pflicht eines Befehlshabers: einen gefährlichen Vorstoß zu zügeln und den eigenen Obersten zu schützen, selbst unter der moralischen Last des Verwandtenmords und im Wirrwarr des Krieges.

Word by Word

नकुलिम्Nakuli (name of a warrior)

तुbut/indeed

शतानीकम्Shatanika (name of a warrior)

भूतकर्माone whose deeds are accomplished (epithet)

सभापतिःlord/president of the assembly

अस्यन्shooting/casting

इषुजालानिnets/volleys of arrows

यान्तम्going/advancing

द्रोणात्from Drona

अवारयत्checked/stopped/warded off

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Śatānīka (of Nakula’s line)

Bhūtakarmā

Droṇa

arrows (iṣu)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in war, a leader’s dharma includes disciplined restraint and protection of key persons; valor is guided by responsibility, not mere aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śatānīka, identified as a descendant of Nakula, advances while releasing dense volleys of arrows; Bhūtakarmā intercepts and prevents him from reaching Droṇa.