Shloka 32

भीमसेन–कर्णयुद्धवर्णनम्

Description of the Bhīmasena–Karṇa Engagement

Devanagari script

शितैरग्निशिखाकारैद्रौणिं विव्याध चाष्टभि: । इसके बाद भूरिश्रवाको तीन और शल्यको दस बाणोंसे बींधकर अग्निकी ज्वालाके समान आकारवाले आठ तीखे बाणोंद्वारा अश्वत्थामाको घायल कर दिया ।। गौतम॑ं पठ्चविंशत्या सैन्धवं च शतेन ह

Transliteration

śitair agniśikhākārair drauṇiṁ vivyādha cāṣṭabhiḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya said: With eight sharp arrows, shaped like tongues of fire, he pierced Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāman—wounding him in the midst of the battle. The scene underscores the relentless escalation of violence in the Kurukṣetra war, where prowess and retaliation drive warriors to ever more lethal exchanges, often eclipsing restraint and compassion.

Word by Word

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

• अग्नि-शिखा-आकारैः: with (arrows) having the form of a flame of fire
• अग्नि-शिखा-आकारैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्निशिखाकार
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• द्रौणिम्: Drauni (Ashvatthaman)
• द्रौणिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विव्याध: pierced/wounded
• विव्याध: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Perfect, 3, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अष्टभिः: with eight
• अष्टभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun (Numeral)
• Root: अष्टन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Aśvatthāman (Drauṇi)
• Agni (fire, as simile)