Shloka 22

Adhyāya 21 — Duryodhanasya bāṇavarṣaḥ

Duryodhana’s Arrow-Storm and the Dust-Obscured Engagements

Devanagari script

ततो राजन्‌ महेष्वास: कृतवर्मा महारथ: । हताश्वसूतं सम्प्रेक्ष्य रथं हेमपरिष्कृतम्‌,राजन! महाधनुर्धर महारथी कृतवर्मा अपने सुवर्ण-भूषित रथको घोड़े और सारथिसे रहित देख महान्‌ रोषसे भर गया। मान्यवर! फिर उसने शिनिप्रवर सात्यकिको मार डालनेकी इच्छासे एक शूल उठाकर उसे अपनी भुजाओंके सम्पूर्ण वेगसे चला दिया

Transliteration

tato rājan maheṣvāsaḥ kṛtavarmā mahārathaḥ | hatāśvasūtaṃ samprekṣya rathaṃ hemapariṣkṛtam ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then, O King, Kritavarman—the great bowman, a mighty chariot-warrior—seeing his gold-adorned chariot bereft of horses and charioteer, was seized by fierce wrath. Intent on slaying Sātyaki, foremost of the Śinis, he lifted a spear and hurled it with the full force of his arms.

Word by Word

• {'tataḥ': 'then, thereafter', 'rājan': 'O king (vocative address)', 'maheṣvāsaḥ': 'great archer

• one possessing a mighty bow', 'kṛtavarmā': 'Kritavarman (a prominent Yādava warrior allied with the Kauravas)', 'mahārathaḥ': 'great chariot-warrior

• an elite combatant', 'hatāśvasūtam': "deprived of horses and charioteer (lit. 'with horses and charioteer slain/absent')", 'samprekṣya': 'having seen, observing', 'ratham': 'chariot', 'hemapariṣkṛtam': 'adorned/embellished with gold'}

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhritarashtra (addressed as 'Rajan')
• Kritavarman
• Satyaki
• Shini clan (Śini-pravara)
• gold-adorned chariot
• horses
• charioteer
• śūla (spear/trident-like weapon)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how grief and loss on the battlefield can rapidly transform into anger and retaliatory intent. Ethically, it underscores the Mahabharata’s recurring warning: unchecked krodha (wrath) narrows judgment and perpetuates cycles of violence, even among renowned warriors.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports that Kritavarman sees his gold-decorated chariot without horses and charioteer, becomes enraged, and—seeking to kill Satyaki—prepares and hurls a spear with full force.