Shloka 32
Śalya’s Objection to Sārathya and Duryodhana’s Conciliation (शल्यमन्यु-प्रशमनम् / Sārathyāṅgīkāra)
तथैव सूतपुत्रेण प्रेषिता: परमाहवे । पाण्डुपुत्रमवच्छाद्य व्यतिष्ठन्ताम्बरे शरा:,नकुलके बाणोंमें कंक और मयूरके पंख लगे हुए थे। वे उनके धनुषसे छूटकर सूतपुत्रको आच्छादित करके जिस प्रकार आकाशमें स्थित होते थे, उसी प्रकार उस महासमरमें सूतपुत्रके चलाये हुए बाण पाण्डुकुमार नकुलको आच्छादित करके आकाशमें छा जाते थे
tathaiva sūtaputreṇa preṣitāḥ paramāhave | pāṇḍuputram avacchādya vyatiṣṭhantāmbare śarāḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: Ebenso, in jener höchsten Schlacht, bedeckten die vom Sohn des Wagenlenkers (Karna) abgeschossenen Pfeile den Sohn Pāṇḍus (Nakula) und schienen sich über den Himmel zu spannen—so dicht war der Pfeilregen, dass er den Krieger verhüllte.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the overwhelming force of martial skill in war: a dense volley can metaphorically ‘cover the sky’ and conceal an opponent. Ethically, it highlights how battle often becomes a contest of sheer intensity and capability, where restraint is eclipsed by the drive to overpower.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa releasing a thick shower of arrows in the great battle. Those arrows cover the Pāṇḍava warrior (identified in context as Nakula), appearing to fill the sky as they surround and conceal him.