Shloka 18

Devanagari script

अस्त्राण्यन्ये समुत्सृज्य निद्रान्धा: शेरते जना:

Transliteration

astrāṇy anye samutsṛjya nidrāndhāḥ śerate janāḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Others, casting aside their weapons, lie down like men blinded by sleep—overcome by exhaustion and heedless of the peril that still surrounds them. The line underscores how, in war, fatigue can eclipse vigilance and duty, leaving people vulnerable at the very moment when discernment is most needed.

Word by Word

• अस्त्राणि: weapons
• अस्त्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• समुत्सृज्य: having cast away/abandoned
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+उत्+सृज्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund), prior action

• निद्रान्धाः: sleep-blinded, stupefied by sleep
• निद्रान्धाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निद्रान्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शेरते: lie down, sleep
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (शे)
• Form: Lat (Present), Atmanepada, Third, Plural

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• astrāṇi (weapons)
• janāḥ (people/warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid grave duties, human weakness—especially exhaustion—can cloud judgment. The verse cautions that neglecting vigilance and preparedness (symbolized by abandoning weapons) invites danger and can become an ethical lapse when one’s role demands alertness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that some combatants, overwhelmed by sleep, have thrown aside their weapons and are lying down. It depicts a lull or breakdown in readiness within the battlefield setting, highlighting the precariousness of the moment.