Shloka 24

Devanagari script

अवाकिरद्‌ रथानीकं भारद्वाजस्य पश्यत: । ततस्तत्सैन्यमभवद्‌ विमुखं शरपीडितम्‌,उस महायशणस्वी वीरने द्रोणाचार्यके देखते-देखते उनकी रथसेनापर क्षुरप्र, वत्सदन्त, विपाठ, नाराच, अर्धचन्द्राकार बाण, भल्‍ल एवं अंजलिक आदिकी वर्षा आरम्भ कर दी। इससे उन बाणोंद्वारा पीड़ित हुई वह सेना युद्धले विमुख होकर भाग चली

Transliteration

avākirad rathānīkaṃ bhāradvājasya paśyataḥ | tatas tat sainyam abhavad vimukhaṃ śarapīḍitam ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Before Bhāradvāja’s (Droṇa’s) very eyes, he showered the chariot-division with arrows. Struck and tormented by those shafts, that host lost its will to fight, turned away from the battle, and began to flee—showing how, in war, morale collapses when disciplined force meets overwhelming missile-power.

Word by Word

• {'avākirat': 'he scattered

• he showered (as with missiles)', 'rathānīkam': 'chariot-corps

• the chariot-division of an army', 'bhāradvājasya': 'of Bhāradvāja

• i.e., Droṇa (son/descendant of Bharadvāja)', 'paśyataḥ': 'while watching

• in the presence of', 'tataḥ': 'then

• thereafter', 'tat': 'that', 'sainyam': 'army

• host', 'abhavat': 'became

• came to be', 'vimukham': 'turned away

• facing away (from battle)', 'śarapīḍitam': 'pained/afflicted by arrows

• harassed by shafts', 'śara': 'arrow', 'pīḍita': 'pressed, tormented, afflicted'}

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇa (Bhāradvāja)
• rathānīka (chariot-corps)
• śara (arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata ethic of warfare: valor and resolve are tested not only by righteousness but by discipline and tactical pressure. When an army’s cohesion breaks under sustained assault, it turns away from its duty (kṣatriya-dharma), illustrating how fear and loss of morale can undo even a large force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a warrior (implied by context) unleashes a dense shower of arrows upon Droṇa’s chariot-division. Under the pain and shock of the missile barrage, that contingent becomes battle-averse, turns its face away, and retreats/flees despite Droṇa watching.