Shloka 53
द्रोणकर्णयोः निशि संप्रहारः — Night Engagement with Droṇa and Karṇa
Devanagari script
अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य द्रौणे: शारद्वतस्य च
Transliteration
astrair astrāṇi saṃvārya drauṇeḥ śāradvatasya ca
Translation
Sañjaya said: Countering weapon with weapon, they checked the assaults of Droṇa’s son and of Śāradvata as well—meeting force with disciplined force amid the chaos of battle.
Word by Word
अस्त्रैःwith weapons/missiles
अस्त्रैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअस्त्र
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
अस्त्राणिweapons/missiles
अस्त्राणि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअस्त्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
संवार्यhaving checked/warded off
संवार्य:
TypeVerb
Rootसम् + वृ
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)
द्रौणेःof the son of Droṇa (Aśvatthāman)
द्रौणेः:
TypeNoun (Proper)
Rootद्रौणि
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
शारद्वतस्यof Śāradvata (Kṛpa)
शारद्वतस्य:
TypeNoun (Proper)
Rootशारद्वत
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaA
Aśvatthāman (Drauṇi, son of Droṇa)K
Kṛpa (Śāradvata)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
Even in warfare, effectiveness is linked with restraint: the line emphasizes disciplined counteraction—neutralizing aggression by appropriate means rather than uncontrolled violence.
Sañjaya reports that the fighters are parrying and neutralizing incoming missiles, specifically checking the attacks launched by Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son) and Kṛpa (Śāradvata).