Shloka 24

अभिमन्योरावरणम्

Encirclement and counter-strikes of Abhimanyu

Devanagari script

ततः क्राथ: शरख्रातैरार्जुनिं समवाकिरत्‌ । अथेतरे संनिवृत्ता: पुनद्रोणमुखा रथा:,तदनन्तर क्राथने अर्जुनकुमार अभिमन्युपर बाणोंकी वर्षा आरम्भ कर दी। इतनेहीमें द्रोण आदि दूसरे महारथी भी पुनः लौट आये

Transliteration

tataḥ krāthaḥ śaravrātair ārjunim samavākirat | atha itare saṁnivṛttāḥ punar droṇamukhā rathāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Krātha showered Arjuna’s son with volleys of arrows. Meanwhile, the other chariot-warriors, headed by Droṇa, who had withdrawn for a moment, turned back again and returned to the front. The scene underscores how, in the press of war, coordinated assaults and rapid regrouping intensify the peril for a lone hero, testing resolve and duty amid relentless violence.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from/thereafter')

• क्राथः: Krātha (a warrior)
• क्राथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्राथ
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular

• शरख्रातैः: with arrow(-like) weapons / with arrows (as 'śara-khrāta')
• शरख्रातैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरख्रात
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, instrumental plural

• अर्जुनिम्: Arjuna’s son (Abhimanyu)
• अर्जुनिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुनि
• Form: Masculine, accusative singular

• समवाकिरत्: showered/covered (with missiles)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अव + √कॄ (किरति)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd person singular, parasmaipada

• अथ: then/and then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ
• Form: Avyaya

• इतरे: the others
• इतरे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इतर
• Form: Masculine, nominative plural

• संनिवृत्ताः: having turned back/returned
• संनिवृत्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + नि + √वृत् (निवर्तते) → संनिवृत्त
• Form: Masculine, nominative plural (past passive participle)

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः
• Form: Avyaya

• द्रोणमुखाः: with Droṇa at the head / led by Droṇa
• द्रोणमुखाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रोणमुख
• Form: Masculine, nominative plural

• रथाः: chariots (i.e., chariot-warriors)
• रथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, nominative plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Krātha
• Abhimanyu
• Droṇa
• rathāḥ (chariot-warriors)
• śara (arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: a warrior’s steadfastness is tested when opponents coordinate and renew attacks. It points to the kṣatriya ideal of endurance and duty amid escalating danger, while also implicitly questioning the morality of overwhelming a single combatant through combined pressure.

What is happening in the narrative?

Krātha begins a heavy arrow-shower against Abhimanyu (Arjuna’s son). At the same time, other chariot-warriors—now led again by Droṇa—return to the fight, indicating a renewed, organized offensive around Abhimanyu.