Shloka 163

कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation

Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows

Devanagari script

अवाकिरुत्ततो द्रौणि: समन्तान्निशितै: शरै: । घोड़ोंके बन्धन खुल गये और वे चारों ओर दौड़ लगाने लगे। युद्धमें शोभा पानेवाले अर्जुनका वह पराक्रम देखकर पराक्रमी द्रोणकुमार अश्वत्थामा तुरंत उनके पास आ गया और अपने सुवर्ण-भूषित विशाल धनुषको हिलाते हुए उसने विजयी वीरोंमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुनको पैने बाणोंद्वारा सब ओरसे ढक दिया

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

avākirut tato drauṇiḥ samantān niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ |

Translation

Sanjaya said: Then Drona’s son, Aśvatthāmā, showered Arjuna from every side with razor-sharp arrows. As the horses’ harnesses came loose and they began to bolt in all directions, Aśvatthāmā—seeing Arjuna’s battle-splendor and prowess—rushed toward him, shaking his great, gold-adorned bow, and enveloped that foremost of victorious heroes with keen shafts on all sides.

Word by Word

• अवाकिरुत्: covered, showered (with arrows)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अवाकिर् (अव + आ + √कॄ)
• Form: Aorist (luṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)

• द्रौणिः: Drauni (son of Droṇa, i.e., Aśvatthāmā)
• द्रौणिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समन्तात्: from all sides, all around
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्तात्

• निशितैः: with sharp
• निशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शरैः: arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sanjaya)
• द्रौणि / अश्वत्थामा (Drauni / Ashvatthama)
• द्रोण (Drona)
• अर्जुन (Arjuna)
• शर (arrows)
• धनुष् (bow)
• घोड़े (horses)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights that in war, prowess alone is not enough: sudden disorder (like panicked horses and loosened harness) tests a warrior’s steadiness, command, and sense of responsibility. It also shows how rivalry and duty-driven combat can rapidly intensify, pressing ethical restraint and disciplined action to the forefront.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya describes Aśvatthāmā (Drona’s son) rushing toward Arjuna after witnessing his battlefield brilliance. Aśvatthāmā shakes his gold-adorned bow and surrounds Arjuna with a dense volley of sharp arrows from all directions, while the horses’ bindings loosen and they run about, adding chaos to the fight.