Shloka 20

अभिमन्योरावरणम्

Encirclement and counter-strikes of Abhimanyu

Devanagari script

तांस्तु विद्ध्वा शितैर्बाणैविमुखीकृत्य चार्जुनि:

Transliteration

tāṁs tu viddhvā śitair bāṇair vimukhīkṛtya cārjuniḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Having struck them with sharp arrows, Arjuna turned them back—forcing them to withdraw and face away from the fight, as he pressed his advantage in the righteous fury of battle.

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• विद्ध्वा: having pierced/struck
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (वेधने) / व्यध्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• शितैः: with sharp
• शितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बाणैः: arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• विमुखीकृत्य: having turned (them) away / having made (them) face away
• Type: Verb
• Root: विमुखी-कृ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

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

• अर्जुनि: in/with regard to Arjuna (i.e., when Arjuna was the focus/target)
• अर्जुनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun (proper name)
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in action: disciplined force used to check aggression and protect one’s side. Arjuna’s effectiveness is shown not as cruelty but as controlled martial duty—repelling opponents to prevent greater harm.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Arjuna strikes the opposing warriors with sharp arrows and drives them back, causing them to turn away/retreat under his assault.