Shloka 18

Arjuna’s Concentrated Archery and the Rout of the Kaurava Mahārathas

Gāṇḍīva-Nirghoṣa Episode

Devanagari script

तानप्राप्तान्‌ शितैर्बाणैर्नासचान्‌ रक्तभोजनान्‌ | कृपश्रिच्छेद पार्थस्य शतशो5थ सहस्रश:

Transliteration

tān aprāptān śitair bāṇair nāśayān raktabhojanān | kṛpaś ciccheda pārthasya śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: With sharp arrows, Kṛpa cut down those blood-drinking foes who were closing in—slaying them by the hundreds and then by the thousands—in the heat of battle.

Word by Word

• तान्: those (men)
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अप्राप्तान्: not reached / unhit
• अप्राप्तान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्राप्त (प्र + आप्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शितैः: with sharp
• शितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बाणैः: arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नासकान्: nose(-bearing) ones / men (lit. with noses)
• नासकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• रक्तभोजनान्: blood-eaters
• रक्तभोजनान्: Karma
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: रक्तभोजन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• कृपः: Kripa
• कृपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शिरश्छेदम्: beheading / cutting off the head
• शिरश्छेदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरश्छेद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पार्थस्य: of Partha (Arjuna)
• पार्थस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• शतशः: by hundreds
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शतशस्
• Form: true

• अथ: then / and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ
• Form: true

• सहस्रशः: by thousands
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रशस्
• Form: true

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kṛpa
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• arrows (bāṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In a battlefield context, the verse highlights kṣatriya-duty: when threatened by violent aggressors, a protector responds decisively to safeguard allies. The ethical frame is not gratuitous cruelty but the obligation to stop destructive forces.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Kṛpa using sharp arrows to cut down approaching enemies—portrayed as ferocious—killing them in great numbers (hundreds and thousands) during the clash.