Shloka 36

Chapter 30: Formation Disruption, Competing War-Cries, and Nīla’s Fall

Droṇa-parva

Devanagari script

त॑ वासवमिवायान्तं भूरिवर्ष शरौघधिणम्‌ | महेष्वासा नरव्यात्रा नोग्रं केचिदवारयन्‌,इन्द्रकी भाँति बाणरूपी जलराशिकी अत्यन्त वर्षा करनेवाले भयंकर वीर अर्जुनको आते देख कोई भी महाधनुर्धर पुरुषसिंह कौरव योद्धा उन्हें रोक न सके

Transliteration

taṁ vāsavam ivāyāntaṁ bhūrivarṣa-śaraugha-dhiṇam | maheṣvāsā naravyāghrā no’graṁ kecid avārayan ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing Arjuna advancing like Vāsava (Indra)—a terrible hero who poured forth torrents of arrows—none among the Kaurava warriors, though great bowmen and tiger-like among men, could check his fierce onrush.

Word by Word

• तम्: him (that one)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वासवम्: Indra
• वासवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• आयान्तम्: coming, approaching
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), आ, Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भूरिवर्षम्: one who rains abundantly
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरिवर्ष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शरौघधिणम्: bearing a flood of arrows / having an arrow-torrent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर-ओघ-धिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महेष्वासाः: great bowmen
• महेष्वासाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नरव्याघ्राः: tigers among men (heroic men)
• नरव्याघ्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर-व्याघ्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• उग्रम्: fierce, formidable
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• केचित्: some (persons)
• केचित्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम् (केचित्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अवारयन्: they restrained / they stopped
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु) / वारय् (णिजन्त)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, Third, Plural, Active, Yes (णिजन्त)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• Vāsava (Indra)
• Kaurava warriors

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the overwhelming force of disciplined skill and resolve in battle: when a warrior’s capability and momentum peak, even celebrated opponents may fail to restrain him. Ethically, it reflects how power in war can eclipse individual valor, reminding readers of the tragic inevitability and escalation inherent in armed conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Arjuna advancing on the battlefield, compared to Indra, showering arrows like a deluge. The Kaurava champions—though famed archers—are unable to halt his fierce advance.