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Shloka 23

भीमसेन–कर्णयुद्धवर्णनम्

Description of the Bhīmasena–Karṇa Engagement

ततो द्रौणिस्त्रिसप्तत्या वासुदेवमताडयत्‌ । अर्जुन च त्रिभिर्भल्लैर्ध्वजमश्वांश्व पडचभि:,उस समय अअभश्वत्थामाने भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्णको तिहत्तर बाण मारे, तीन भल्लोंसे अर्जुनको चोट पहुँचायी और पाँचसे उनके ध्वज एवं घोड़ोंको घायल कर दिया

tato drauṇis trisaptatyā vāsudevam atāḍayat | arjunaṃ ca tribhir bhallair dhvajam aśvāṃś ca pañcabhiḥ ||

サンジャヤは言った。するとドローナの子アシュヴァッターマンは、ヴァースデーヴァ(クリシュナ)を七十三本の矢で射た。さらに鋭いバッラ矢三本でアルジュナを傷つけ、また五本でアルジュナの旗印と馬を損ねた――戦の憤怒のただ中では、御者さえ、そして武人の力を支えるものさえ標的となり、アダルマへ傾きやすい暴力の渦中で、決意と自制が試されることを示している。

ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
द्रौणिःDrauni (Aśvatthāman)
द्रौणिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootद्रौणि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
त्रिसप्तत्याwith seventy-three (arrows)
त्रिसप्तत्या:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootत्रिसप्तति
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
वासुदेवम्Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
वासुदेवम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवासुदेव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अताडयत्struck, smote
अताडयत्:
TypeVerb
Rootतड्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
अर्जुनम्Arjuna
अर्जुनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअर्जुन
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
त्रिभिःwith three
त्रिभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootत्रि
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
भल्लैःwith bhalla-arrows
भल्लैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootभल्ल
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
ध्वजम्banner, standard
ध्वजम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootध्वज
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अश्वान्horses
अश्वान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअश्व
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
पञ्चभिःwith five
पञ्चभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootपञ्च
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
A
Aśvatthāman (Drauṇi)
D
Droṇa
V
Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
A
Arjuna
B
bhalla-arrows
C
chariot banner (dhvaja)
H
horses (aśvāḥ)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how war pressures warriors toward increasingly destructive tactics—striking not only the main fighter but also the charioteer, banner, and horses—thereby testing dharma through the need for discipline, restraint, and steadfastness amid chaos.

Aśvatthāman (Drauṇi) launches a heavy volley: he hits Kṛṣṇa with seventy-three arrows, wounds Arjuna with three bhalla-arrows, and then damages Arjuna’s chariot banner and horses with five more arrows.