Shloka 21

Nakula–Śakuni Duel and the Night Battle; Śikhaṇḍin–Kṛpa Engagement (नकुल-शकुनियुद्धं तथा रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

भूरिश्रवा: सात्यकिश्न ववर्षतुररिंदमौ

Transliteration

bhūriśravāḥ sātyakiś ca vavarṣatur ariṃdamau

Translation

Sañjaya said: Bhūriśravā and Sātyaki—both famed as subduers of foes—poured down a relentless shower of blows upon each other, intensifying the fierce contest on the battlefield.

Word by Word

• भूरिश्रवाः: Bhūriśravas (a warrior)
• भूरिश्रवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूरिश्रवस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सात्यकिः: Sātyaki
• सात्यकिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्यकि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• ववर्षतुः: they two rained down / showered
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Dual, Parasmaipada

• अरिंदमौ: the two subduers of enemies
• अरिंदमौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरिंदम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhūriśravā
• Sātyaki (Yuyudhāna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of steadfastness and prowess in battle, while implicitly showing how conflict escalates when equally matched warriors answer force with force—raising ethical reflection on the costs of martial duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Bhūriśravā and Sātyaki are locked in intense single combat, striking each other repeatedly as if ‘raining’ blows, each proving himself a formidable enemy-subduer.