Shloka 18

Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)

Devanagari script

शितैरवाकिरद्‌ बाणै: कलिड्डानां वरूथिनीम्‌ । कालिड्रस्तु महेष्वास: पुत्रश्नास्य महारथ:

Transliteration

śitair avākirad bāṇaiḥ kaliḍḍānāṃ varūthinīm | kāliḍras tu maheṣvāsaḥ putraśnāsya mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: With razor-sharp arrows he showered and overwhelmed the battle-array of the Kaliḍḍas. But Kāliḍra—an archer of great prowess, a foremost chariot-warrior, and the son of Putraśnā—stood firm to meet that assault, showing how, amid the chaos of war, disciplined valor and steadfast duty are tested under a rain of weapons.

Word by Word

• शितैः: with sharp
• शितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अवाकिरत्: showered, covered (with missiles)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव√कॄ (किरति)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

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

• कलिङ्गानाम्: of the Kalingas
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलिङ्ग
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वरूथिनीम्: army, host
• वरूथिनीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरूथिनी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• कालिङ्गः: the Kalinga (king/warrior)
• कालिङ्गः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिङ्ग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but, however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• महेष्वासः: great bowman
• महेष्वासः: Karta
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुत्रश्नास्य: Putraśnāsa (name/epithet)
• पुत्रश्नास्य: Karta
• Type: Noun (Proper name/epithet)
• Root: पुत्रश्नास्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महारथः: great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kaliḍḍas (people/warriors)
• Kāliḍra
• Putraśnā
• arrows (bāṇa)
• army/battle-array (varūthinī)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness under pressure: disciplined courage and duty are measured not by ease but by endurance when faced with overwhelming force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a warrior showers the Kaliḍḍa battle-host with sharp arrows, while Kāliḍra—described as a mighty archer and great chariot-warrior, son of Putraśnā—stands as the notable opponent in that exchange.