Shloka 43

Devanagari script

ततो व्योम्नि विषक्तानि शरजालानि भागश: । आहतानि व्यशीर्यन्त भीमसेनस्य पत्रिभि:,उस समय भीमसेनके बाणोंसे आहत होकर आकाशमें फैले हुए बाणोंके जाल टुकड़े- टुकड़े होकर बिखर गये

Transliteration

tato vyomni viṣaktāni śarajālāni bhāgaśaḥ | āhatāni vyaśīryanta bhīmasenasya patribhiḥ ||

Translation

Then, struck by Bhīmasena’s feathered arrows, the arrow-nets that hung spread across the sky shattered and scattered into fragments. The scene underscores how, amid the fury of battle, even seemingly impenetrable volleys are broken by superior force and resolve.

Word by Word

ततःthen/thereupon

व्योम्निin the sky

विषक्तानिclinging/spread (fixed)

शरजालानिnets/masses of arrows

भागशःin parts, piece by piece

आहतानिstruck, hit

व्यशीर्यन्तwere shattered/scattered

भीमसेनस्यof Bhīmasena

पत्रिभिःwith arrows (feathered shafts)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīmasena

vyoman (sky)

śara (arrows)

śarajāla (arrow-net/volley)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the impermanence of martial advantage: even a dense, sky-filling barrage can be broken by effective counteraction. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s sober view of war—skill and resolve decide outcomes, yet the spectacle also points to the destructive, fragmenting nature of conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the masses of arrows spread across the sky are struck by Bhīmasena’s feathered arrows and consequently break apart and scatter in pieces, indicating Bhīma’s forceful response to an incoming volley.