Shloka 17
Chapter 30: Formation Disruption, Competing War-Cries, and Nīla’s Fall
Droṇa-parva
सकम्पनर्टिनखरा मुसलानि परश्चधा: । क्षुरा: क्षुरप्रनालीका वत्सदन्तास्थिसन्धय:,फिर तो अर्जुनके ऊपर दंडे, लोहेके गोले, पत्थर, शतघ्नी, शक्ति, गदा, परिघ, खड़्ग, शूल, मुदगर, पट्टिश, कम्पन, ऋष्टि, नखर, मुसल, फरसे, छूरे, क्षुरप्र, नालीक, वत्सदन्त, अस्थिसंधि, चक्र, बाण, प्रास तथा अन्य नाना प्रकारके सैकड़ों अस्त्र-शस्त्र सम्पूर्ण दिशाओं और विदिशाओंसे आ-आकर पड़ने लगे
sakampanārṭinakhārā musalāni paraśvadhāḥ | kṣurāḥ kṣurapraṇālīkā vatsadantāsthisandhayaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “Trembling ‘kampana’ weapons, spears and nail-like missiles, heavy pestles, and battle-axes; razors, razor-headed shafts, tubular missiles, and weapons fashioned like a calf’s tooth and jointed bone—such varied arms, in countless kinds, came rushing from every direction and struck down upon Arjuna.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical strain of warfare: even a righteous warrior faces overwhelming, indiscriminate aggression. The implied lesson is steadiness (dhairya) and disciplined action under chaos—responding with skill and restraint rather than panic or cruelty.
Sañjaya narrates that numerous kinds of weapons—clubs, axes, spears, razor-like missiles, and other specialized arms—are being hurled from all directions toward Arjuna, emphasizing the intensity of the assault and Arjuna’s ordeal on the battlefield.