Shloka 9

Devanagari script

ततस्तौ रथिनां श्रेष्ठी सर्वलोक धनुर्धरी । शैनेयप्रमुखान्‌ पार्थानभिदुद्रुवतू रणे,सम्पूर्ण लोकमें विख्यात धनुर्धर, रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ उन द्रोणाचार्य और कर्णने रणभूमिमें पुनः सात्यकि आदि पाण्डव महारथियोंपर धावा किया

Transliteration

tatas tau rathināṃ śreṣṭhī sarvaloka-dhanurdharī | śaineya-pramukhān pārthān abhidudruvatū raṇe ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then those two—foremost among chariot-warriors and famed throughout the world as master archers, Droṇācārya and Karṇa—once again charged into the battle, rushing straight at the Pāṇḍava great chariot-fighters led by Śaineya (Sātyaki).

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

तौthose two

रथिनाम्of chariot-warriors

श्रेष्ठीthe best (two)

सर्वलोकin all the world

धनुर्धरीbow-bearers/archers (two)

शैनेयप्रमुखान्those headed by Śaineya (Sātyaki)

पार्थान्the sons of Pṛthā / Pāṇḍavas

अभिदुद्रुवतुःrushed/charged against

रणेin battle

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Droṇācārya

Karṇa

Śaineya (Sātyaki)

Pārthas (Pāṇḍavas)

battlefield (raṇa)

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 moral tension of war: extraordinary skill and fame (as ‘world-renowned archers’) can intensify violence when directed toward destruction. It invites reflection on how power and reputation, without restraint, propel repeated aggression and deepen the ethical burden of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Droṇa and Karṇa, described as the foremost chariot-warriors and celebrated archers, surge forward again in the fight, charging the Pāṇḍava champions led by Sātyaki (Śaineya).