Shloka 656

कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९

Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces

Devanagari script

नानावर्णहता बाणै: पञ्चालैरपलायिभि: | 'युद्धसे पीठ न दिखानेवाले पांचाल-वीरोंके विभिन्न रंगोंवाले बाणोंसे मारे जाकर ये प्राणशून्य रथी रथोंसे नीचे गिर रहे हैं

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

nānāvarṇahatā bāṇaiḥ pañcālair apalāyibhiḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Von den vielfarbigen Pfeilen der Pāñcālas getroffen—Krieger, die dem Kampf nicht den Rücken kehren—stürzen diese Wagenkämpfer, des Lebens beraubt, von ihren Streitwagen herab.

Word by Word

• नाना: variously, of many kinds
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना

• वर्ण: by colors
• वर्ण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• हताः: killed, struck down
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• बाणैः: by arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पञ्चालैः: by the Panchalas
• पञ्चालैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चाल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अपलायिभिः: by (those) not fleeing; non-retreating
• अपलायिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपलायिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pāñcālas
• arrows (bāṇa)
• chariots (ratha)
• chariot-warriors (rathī)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the uncompromising reality of war: even steadfast, non-retreating warriors meet death. It implicitly frames courage (not fleeing) as a kṣatriya virtue, while also reminding that valor operates within the tragic moral cost of violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Pāñcāla fighters, who stand firm in battle, are shooting many-colored arrows that kill chariot-warriors; the lifeless rathīs then tumble down from their chariots.