Shloka 92

Śaineya’s Breakthrough and Reunion with Arjuna (शैनेयस्य समागमः)

Devanagari script

विधुन्वानौ धनुःश्रेष्ठे संदथधानौ च सायकान्‌ | विसृजन्तो च शतशो गभस्तीनिव भास्वरौ

Transliteration

vidhunvānau dhanuḥśreṣṭhe saṃdadhānau ca sāyakān | visṛjantau ca śataśo gabhastīn iva bhāsvarau

Translation

Sañjaya said: Shaking their excellent bows and swiftly fitting arrows to the string, the two radiant warriors released volleys by the hundreds—like blazing rays streaming forth. The verse highlights the disciplined, relentless mechanics of battle: skill and speed harnessed for destruction.

Word by Word

• विधुन्वानौ: shaking, brandishing
• विधुन्वानौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: विधुन्वत् (धातु: धुन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• धनुःश्रेष्ठे: in/with the best bows
• धनुःश्रेष्ठे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुःश्रेष्ठ
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Dual

• संदधधानौ: placing/setting (on the bow), fitting
• संदधधानौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: संदधत् (धातु: धा with सम्-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सायकान्: arrows
• सायकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विसृजन्तौ: releasing, shooting forth
• विसृजन्तौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: विसृजत् (धातु: सृज् with वि-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• शतशः: by hundreds, in hundreds
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शतशस्

• गभस्तीन्: rays, beams
• गभस्तीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गभस्ति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• इव: like, as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• भास्वरौ: shining, radiant
• भास्वरौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भास्वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• excellent bows (dhanuḥśreṣṭha)
• arrows (sāyaka)
• rays/beams (gabhasti)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse implicitly contrasts dazzling prowess with its moral cost: technical excellence and radiant heroism can still serve destructive ends. It invites reflection on how skill (śaurya/kaushala) becomes ethically meaningful only when aligned with dharma rather than mere victory.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two combatants in close engagement: they brandish their superior bows, rapidly nock arrows, and unleash hundreds of shots. Their continuous volleys are compared to brilliant rays of light, emphasizing speed, intensity, and overwhelming force.