Shloka 44

Devanagari script

कर्णस्य शरजालौघैर्भीमसेनस्य चो भयो: । अग्निस्फुलिजड्गसंस्पर्शरञ्जोगतिभिराहवे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca

karṇasya śarajālaughair bhīmasenasya cobhayoḥ | agnisphuliṅgasaṃsparśarañjogatibhir āhave ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: In that battle, the dense torrents of arrows released by Karṇa and by Bhīmasena—on both sides—moved and struck like showers of fire-sparks, their swift courses flashing as they met and grazed, turning the field into a blazing spectacle of mutual fury and unrelenting resolve.

Word by Word

• कर्णस्य: of Karna
• कर्णस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• शरजालौघैः: by torrents/masses of nets of arrows
• शरजालौघैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरजालौघ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• भीमसेनस्य: of Bhimasena
• भीमसेनस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

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

• उभयोः: of both (of them)
• उभयोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: उभ
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Dual

• अग्निस्फुलिङ्ग: fire-spark
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निस्फुलिङ्ग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• संस्पर्श: contact, touch
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्पर्श
• Form: Masculine, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• रञ्ज: reddening/glow (lit. coloring)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रञ्ज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• गतिभिः: by movements/speeds
• गतिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• आहवे: in battle
• आहवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the relentless intensity of kṣatriya combat: when warriors are bound by rivalry and duty, their actions can become a consuming force. It implicitly cautions that martial prowess, though admirable as valor, also magnifies destruction when driven by enmity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Karṇa and Bhīmasena exchanging overwhelming volleys of arrows. The arrows’ swift, flashing trajectories are compared to fire-sparks, emphasizing the ferocity and brilliance of their duel on the battlefield.