Shloka 46

Devanagari script

ततः शरमयं जाल द्रोणस्तेषामवासृजत्‌ । ते हन्यमाना द्रोणस्थ शरैराकर्णचोदितै:

Transliteration

tataḥ śaramayaṁ jālaṁ droṇas teṣām avāsṛjat | te hanyamānā droṇastha-śarair ākarṇacoditaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Droṇa released against them a net-like shower of arrows. Struck by the arrows shot from Droṇa’s bow—drawn back to the ear—they were cut down and overwhelmed in the press of battle.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

शरमयम्made of arrows

जालम्net, mesh

द्रोणःDrona

तेषाम्of/for them

अवासृजत्released, let loose

तेthey

हन्यमानाःbeing struck/killed

द्रोणस्थO one stationed with Drona / O Drona-placed (uncertain reading)

शरैःwith arrows

आकर्णचोदितैःimpelled up to the ear (i.e., drawn to the ear and shot)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Droṇa

śara (arrows)

jāla (net-like barrage)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: extraordinary skill and duty-driven aggression can become a force of mass harm. It invites reflection on how power, when exercised without restraint or compassion, rapidly multiplies suffering—even when framed within kṣatriya duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Droṇa unleashes a dense, net-like barrage of arrows. The opposing warriors are struck by fully drawn, forceful shots (ākarṇacodita), indicating a decisive and overwhelming attack in the battle.