Shloka 27

Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter

Devanagari script

ततस्तानस्यत: सर्वान्‌ द्रौणेर्बाणान्‌ महात्मन: । जानानोअप्यक्षयान्‌ पाण्ड्योडशातयत्‌ पुरुषर्षभ:,पुरुषशिरोमणि पाण्ड्यने बाण चलाते हुए महामनस्वी अश्वत्थामाके उन सब बाणोंको अक्षय जानते हुए भी काट डाला

Transliteration

tatas tān asyataḥ sarvān drauṇer bāṇān mahātmanaḥ | jānann apy akṣayān pāṇḍyo 'śātayat puruṣarṣabhaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then the Pāṇḍya, that bull among men, shattered all the arrows being hurled by the great-souled son of Droṇa. Even knowing those missiles to be unfailing, he still cut them down—showing steadfast courage and mastery amid the ruthless ethics of war.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय

• तान्: those (them)
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अस्यतः: of (him) who was shooting
• अस्यतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (क्षेपणे) / अस्यत् (वर्तमानकृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्सम्बन्धे, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (अस्यतः = अस्यत्-जनस्य)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• द्रौणेः: of Drona's son (Ashvatthaman)
• द्रौणेः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि (द्रोण-अपत्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• बाणान्: arrows
• बाणान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (one)
• महात्मनः: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• जानानः: knowing
• जानानः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (अवबोधने) / जानत् (वर्तमानकृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (कर्तरि वर्तमानकृदन्त)

• अपि: even, although
• अपि: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि
• Form: अव्यय

• अक्षयान्: inexhaustible, imperishable
• अक्षयान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• पाण्ड्यः: Pāṇḍya (the king)
• पाण्ड्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्ड्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अशातयत्: cut down, destroyed
• अशातयत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: शातय् (छेदने/विनाशने) + अ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पुरुषर्षभः: bull among men, best of men
• पुरुषर्षभः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष-ऋषभ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Drauṇi (Aśvatthāmā)
• Droṇa
• Pāṇḍya (the Pāṇḍya king/warrior)
• arrows (bāṇāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya resolve: even when facing weapons believed to be unfailing, a warrior must not yield to fear. Ethical emphasis lies on steadfastness, presence of mind, and disciplined skill in the chaos of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Aśvatthāmā (Drauṇi) shoots a volley of arrows. The Pāṇḍya warrior, though aware of their feared or ‘unfailing’ nature, counters effectively by cutting and shattering them mid-course.