Shloka 26

द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय २७: सुशर्माह्वानम्, अर्जुनस्य प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, भगदत्तेन गजप्रहारः

Devanagari script

जज्वालालंकृता सेना पत्रिभि: प्राणिभोजनै: । नानारूपैस्तदामित्रान्‌ क्रुद्धे निध्नति फाल्गुने,जब क्रोधमें भरे हुए अर्जुन नाना प्रकारके प्राणनाशक बाणोंद्वारा शत्रुओंका नाश करने लगे, उस समय आशभूषणोंसे विभूषित हुई संशप्तकोंकी सारी सेना जलने लगी

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | jajvāla-alaṅkṛtā senā patribhiḥ prāṇi-bhojanaiḥ | nānā-rūpais tadāmitrān kruddho nighnati phālgune ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then the Saṁsaptaka host, adorned with blazing splendour, seemed to burn as Arjuna (Phālguna), inflamed with wrath, struck down the enemy with many kinds of life-devouring, feathered arrows.

Word by Word

जज्वालblazed, burned

अलंकृताadorned, decorated

सेनाarmy

पत्रिभिःwith arrows (lit. feathered ones)

प्राणि-भोजनैःlife-devouring (lit. eating living beings)

नाना-रूपैःof many forms, various

तदाthen, at that time

अमित्रान्enemies

क्रुद्धःangry, enraged

निघ्नतिstrikes down, kills

फाल्गुनेin/when (the) son of Phalguna (Arjuna)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Arjuna (Phālguna)

Saṁsaptaka army

arrows (feathered, deadly)

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 frames wrath in battle as a consuming force: even an army ‘adorned’ with splendour becomes as if it is burning when violence intensifies. It hints at the ethical tension in kṣatriya warfare—duty-driven combat can still be morally perilous when fueled by uncontrolled anger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Arjuna, enraged, cutting down enemies with many kinds of deadly, feathered arrows. The Saṁsaptaka forces, facing this onslaught, are portrayed as blazing or burning—an image for the devastation spreading through their ranks.