Shloka 24
तत: क्षुरप्राञ्जलिकार्धचन्द्रा नालीकनाराचवराहकर्णा: । गाण्डीवत: प्रादुरासन् सुतीक्ष्णा: सहस्रशो वज़्ञसमानवेगा:,उस गाण्डीव धनुषसे क्षुरप्र, अंजलिक, अर्धचन्द्र, नालीक, नाराच और वराहकर्ण आदि तीखे अस्त्र हजारोंकी संख्यामें छूटने लगे। वे सभी अस्त्र वज्धके समान वेगशाली थे
tataḥ kṣuraprāñjalikārdhacandrā nālīkanārācavarāhakarṇāḥ | gāṇḍīvataḥ prādurāsan sutīkṣṇāḥ sahasraśo vajrasamānavegāḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Lalu dari busur Gāṇḍīva memancar—beribu-ribu—anak panah yang tajam: kṣura, prāñjalika, ardha-candra, nālīka, nārāca, dan varāhakarṇa. Semuanya melesat dengan kecepatan laksana vajra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily heightens the ethical atmosphere of the war by emphasizing the immense, almost thunderbolt-like force unleashed through human skill. It implicitly points to the grave responsibility that accompanies prowess: extraordinary capability in battle magnifies consequences, demanding restraint and right intention (dharma) even amid violence.
Sañjaya describes a sudden, massive discharge of many specialized arrow-types from the Gāṇḍīva bow. The imagery stresses quantity, sharpness, and speed—suggesting a decisive escalation in the exchange of missiles on the battlefield.