Shloka 11

कर्णपर्व — चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः

Arjuna’s Suppression of the Saṃśaptakas; Kṛṣṇa’s Strategic Admonition; Battlefield Inventory

Devanagari script

तावन्योन्यं शरैघोरिश्छादयानौ महारथौ । रथवर्यगतौ वीरौ शुशुभाते बलोत्कटौ,वे दोनों बलोन्मत्त महारथी वीर श्रेष्ठ रथोंपर बैठकर एक-दूसरेको भयंकर बाणोंद्वारा आच्छादित करते हुए बड़ी शोभा पा रहे थे

Transliteration

tāv anyonyaṁ śaraiḥ ghoriś chādayānau mahārathau | rathavaryagatau vīrau śuśubhāte balotkaṭau ||

Translation

Kedua kesatria mahāratha yang perkasa itu, berdiri di atas kereta-kereta unggul mereka, saling menutupi satu sama lain dengan hujan anak panah yang mengerikan, dan tampak bersinar—gagah serta meluap oleh kekuatan—di tengah sengitnya pertempuran.

Word by Word

तौthose two

अन्योन्यम्each other (mutually)

शरैःwith arrows

घोरैःterrible

छादयानौcovering, showering/veiling

महारथौtwo great chariot-warriors

रथवर्यगतौmounted on excellent chariots

वीरौtwo heroes

शुशुभातेshone, were splendid

बलोत्कटौmighty in strength, exceedingly powerful

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Two unnamed mahārathas (the pair engaged in mutual arrow-exchange)

Arrows (śara)

Chariots (ratha)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness and prowess in battle: even amid violent exchange, the warriors maintain composure and radiance. Ethically, it frames war as a domain where courage, skill, and endurance are publicly tested, while also hinting at the tragic grandeur of conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two foremost chariot-warriors facing each other. From their fine chariots they unleash terrifying volleys of arrows, each trying to overwhelm the other, and in that intense duel both appear splendid and formidable.