Mahabharata 7.116.91 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 116, Shloka 91

Śaineya’s Breakthrough and Reunion with Arjuna (शैनेयस्य समागमः)

Devanagari script

तौ दिशां गजसंकाशौ ज्वलिताविव पावकौ । समापेततुरन्योन्यं शरसड्घैररिंदमौ

Transliteration

tau diśāṃ gajasaṃkāśau jvalitāv iva pāvakau | samāpetatur anyonyaṃ śarasaṅghair ariṃdamau ||

Translation

Dijo Sañjaya: Aquellos dos héroes—vastos como los elefantes que guardan los rumbos y ardientes como el fuego—se arrojaron el uno contra el otro. Cada cual, triturador de enemigos, acometió al contrario con densas andanadas de flechas; y su choque se encendió en un combate feroz, donde el valor y la ira eclipsaron la mesura en el cumplimiento del deber guerrero.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• दिशाम्: of the directions
• दिशाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• गज-संकाशौ: elephant-like
• गज-संकाशौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गजसंकाश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• ज्वलितौ: blazing
• ज्वलितौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

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

• पावकौ: two fires
• पावकौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• समापेततुः: they two rushed together / closed in
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√पत्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Dual, Parasmaipada

• अन्योन्यम्: each other
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अन्योन्य
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular, adverbial accusative

• शर-सङ्घैः: with volleys/groups of arrows
• शर-सङ्घैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरसङ्घ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अरिंदमौ: enemy-subduing (two heroes)
• अरिंदमौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरिंदम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• two unnamed warriors (ariṃdamau)
• arrows (śara)
• directions/quarters (diś)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s war-ethic tension: within kṣatriya-dharma, warriors are expected to meet force with force, yet the imagery of blazing fire suggests how combat can rapidly intensify, consuming discernment and compassion even when framed as duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two formidable fighters closing in on each other and exchanging thick showers of arrows. They are compared to mighty elephants of the quarters and to fire, emphasizing their power, speed, and the ferocity of their clash.