Shloka 8
कर्णार्जुनयुद्ध-प्रवृत्तिः
Renewal of the Karṇa–Arjuna Engagement at Day’s End
तान् नागानभिवर्षन्तो ज्यातन्त्रीतलनादितै: । वीरनृत्यं प्रनृत्यन्तः शूरतालप्रचोदितै: । नकुल: सहदेवश्न द्रौपदेया: प्रभद्रका:,वे प्रत्यंचारूपी वीणाके तारको झंकारते, शूरवीरोंके दिये हुए तालसे प्रेरणा लेते तथा वीरोचित नृत्य करते हुए उन हाथियोंपर बाणोंकी वर्षा कर रहे थे। नकुल, सहदेव, द्रौपदीके पाँचों पुत्र, प्रभद्रकगण, सात्यकि, शिखण्डी तथा पराक्रमी चेकितान--ये सभी वीर चारों ओरसे उन हाथियोंपर उसी प्रकार बाणोंकी वृष्टि करने लगे, जैसे बादल पर्वतोंपर पानी बरसाते हैं
sañjaya uvāca |
tān nāgān abhivarṣanto jyātantrī-tala-nāditaiḥ |
vīra-nṛtyaṃ pranṛtyantaḥ śūra-tāla-pracoditaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Stirred by the martial rhythm—like the beat of bowstrings and the clatter of time-keeping—those heroes performed a warrior’s dance and showered arrows upon the elephants. Nakula, Sahadeva, Draupadī’s five sons, the Prabhadrakas, Sātyaki, Śikhaṇḍī, and the mighty Cekitāna all poured arrows from every side, as rain-clouds drench mountains with water.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid violence, effectiveness and restraint arise from discipline, coordination, and presence of mind. The verse frames martial action as ordered and rhythmic—suggesting that trained composure can counter fearsome forces like elephant-corps.
Sañjaya describes warriors surrounding the enemy’s elephants and showering them with arrows, moving in a coordinated, rhythm-driven ‘warrior dance’ accompanied by resounding beats and the twang of bowstrings.