Shloka 23

अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः

Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon

Devanagari script

एवं प्रववृते युद्ध भारद्वाजकिरीटिनो: । सम॑ विमुञज्चतो संख्ये विशिखान्‌ दीप्ततेजस:

Transliteration

evaṁ pravavṛte yuddhe bhāradvāja-kirīṭinoḥ | samaṁ vimuñcato saṅkhye viśikhān dīpta-tejasaḥ ||

Translation

Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Así comenzó la batalla entre Droṇa, hijo de Bhāradvāja, y Arjuna, el portador de la diadema. En el campo de combate, ambos, iguales en determinación, empezaron a lanzar flechas fulgurantes el uno contra el otro: un encuentro que revela la severa ética de la guerra kṣatriya, donde la maestría y el deber se ponen a prueba sin retirada.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• प्रवृत्ते: when (it was) begun/engaged
• प्रवृत्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवृत्त
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• युद्धे: in the battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• भारद्वाज: of Bharadvaja (i.e., Drona's lineage)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारद्वाज
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• किरीटिनोः: of the diadem-wearer (Arjuna) (dual genitive in coordination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीटिन्
• Form: masculine, genitive, dual

• समम्: equally, evenly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम

• विमुञ्चतः: (they) release, discharge
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-मुच्
• Form: present, third, dual, parasmaipada

• संख्ये: in the combat, in the battle
• संख्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संख्या
• Form: feminine, locative, singular

• विशिखान्: arrows
• विशिखान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशिख
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• दीप्ततेजसः: the two of blazing splendor
• दीप्ततेजसः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्ततेजस्
• Form: masculine, nominative, dual

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Droṇa (Bhāradvāja’s son)
• Arjuna (Kirīṭin)
• arrows (viśikha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic: when duty calls, warriors meet openly in combat, matching skill with skill. It frames warfare not as chaos but as a disciplined test of resolve and mastery, where neither side yields in commitment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that a direct battle breaks out between Droṇa and Arjuna. Both stand in the battlefield and shower each other with brilliant arrows, indicating an intense, evenly matched duel.