Shloka 18

Devanagari script

अन्तरिक्षे शरौघाणां पततां च परस्परम्‌

Transliteration

antarikṣe śaraughāṇāṃ patatāṃ ca parasparam

Translation

Sañjaya said: “In the open sky, dense torrents of arrows were falling and striking one another, meeting head-on in midair.”

Word by Word

• अन्तरिक्षे: in the sky/atmosphere
• अन्तरिक्षे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तरिक्ष
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• शरौघाणाम्: of masses/volleys of arrows
• शरौघाणाम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरौघ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• पतताम्: of (those) falling
• पतताम्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (पतति)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

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

• परस्परम्: mutually/against each other
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• arrows
• sky (antarikṣa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse primarily intensifies the epic’s war-vision: when combat becomes so extreme that arrows collide in midair, it underscores the destructive momentum of conflict and the grave consequences of unchecked hostility, even while reflecting the kṣatriya ideal of formidable martial prowess.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the battle’s ferocity: volleys of arrows are so thick in the sky that they meet and strike each other while flying, conveying an overwhelming exchange of missiles between the opposing warriors.