Shloka 16
(शक्तिभिस्तोमरै: प्रासै: कुणपै: कूटमुद्गरै: । शूलैस्त्रिशूलै: परिघै: भिन्दिपालै: परश्चधै: ।।
sañjaya uvāca |
śaktibhis tomaraiḥ prāsaiḥ kuṇapaiḥ kūṭamudgaraiḥ |
śūlais triśūlaiḥ parighair bhindipālaiḥ paraśvadhaiḥ ||
karavālair hemadaṇḍair yaṣṭibhīr musalair halaiḥ |
parihṛṣṭāś cakrire pārtha samantād gūḍham āyudhaiḥ ||
tato 'rjunaḥ sahasrāṇi rathavāraṇavājinām |
preṣayām āsa viśikhair yamasya sadanaṃ prati ||
Sañjaya sprach: In Kampfesjubel umringten die Krieger Pārtha (Arjuna) von allen Seiten und bedeckten ihn mit einem dichten Sturm von Waffen—Speeren und Wurfspießen, Lanzen, Keulen und Streitkolben, Piken und Dreizacken, Eisenstangen, Bhindipālas, Äxten, Schwertern, goldenen Stäben, Knüppeln, Stößeln und Pflügen. Da begann Arjuna, diesem Ring mit unbeirrbarer Kraft begegnend, mit seinen Pfeilen Tausende feindlicher Wagen, Elefanten und Pferde in Yamas Wohnstatt zu senden.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of war: exhilaration and aggression on the battlefield quickly culminate in death, while disciplined mastery (Arjuna’s focused archery) determines outcomes. It implicitly reminds the listener that in battle, Yama’s law—mortality—stands behind every act, urging sobriety and responsibility even amid heroic duty.
Arjuna is surrounded from all sides by delighted enemy fighters who shower him with many kinds of weapons. In response, Arjuna counters with a devastating volley of arrows, killing large numbers—charioteers, elephants, and horses—sending them to Yama’s abode (i.e., to death).