Shloka 16
Devanagari script
अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य लघुहस्तो जितेन्द्रिय:
Transliteration
astrair astrāṇi saṃvārya laghu-hasto jitendriyaḥ
Translation
Sañjaya said: Countering weapon with weapon, he fought with swift hands and disciplined senses—showing controlled skill amid the violence 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 warded off/checked
संवार्य:
TypeVerb
Rootसम् + वृ (वृणोति/वृ)
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
लघुहस्तःquick-handed
लघुहस्तः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootलघुहस्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
जितेन्द्रियःself-controlled (having conquered the senses)
जितेन्द्रियः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootजितेन्द्रिय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaCharacter 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, excellence is not merely force but mastery—skill guided by restraint. The phrase jitendriyaḥ highlights ethical self-governance: disciplined senses prevent rage and cruelty from overruling judgment.
Sañjaya describes a warrior in combat who neutralizes incoming attacks by matching them with appropriate counter-weapons, acting with speed (laghu-hastaḥ) and inner control (jitendriyaḥ).