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Shloka 9

Adhyāya 16: Saṃśaptaka-vrata and the Diversion of Arjuna (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६)

कर्णात्मजं शरख्रातैरदृश्यं चक्कुरञज्जसा । तान्‌ नदन्तो<भ्यधावन्त द्रोणपुत्रमुखा रथा:,उन्होंने अपने बाणसमूहोंकी वर्षसे कर्णकुमार वृषसेनको अनायास ही आच्छादित करके अदृश्य कर दिया। महाराज! यह देख अश्वत्थामा आदि महारथी सिंहनाद करते हुए उनपर टूट पड़े और जैसे मेघ पर्वतोंपर जलकी धारा गिराते हैं, उसी प्रकार वे नाना प्रकारके बाणोंकी वर्षा करते हुए तुरंत ही महारथी द्रौपदीपुत्रोंकी आच्छादित करने लगे

sañjaya uvāca | karṇātmajaṃ śaravrātair adṛśyaṃ cakrur añjasā | tān nadanto 'bhyadhāvanta droṇaputramukhā rathāḥ |

サञ्जयは言った。矢の斉射によって彼らはカルナの子ヴリシャセーナをたちまち覆い尽くし、まるで姿が見えぬほどにした。これを見て、ドローナの子(アシュヴァッターマ)を先頭とする戦車武者たちは獅子の咆哮を上げて突撃し、雨雲が山々に水の流れを注ぐように、さまざまな矢の雨でただちにドラウパディーの子らを包み隠し始めた。

कर्णात्मजम्Karna's son (Vrishasena)
कर्णात्मजम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकर्ण-आत्मज
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
शरव्रातैःwith heaps/masses of arrows
शरव्रातैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशर-व्रात
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
अदृश्यम्invisible
अदृश्यम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअदृश्य
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
चक्रुःthey made
चक्रुः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Third, Plural
रञ्जसाby dust/with dust (i.e., by the dust-cloud)
रञ्जसा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootरञ्जस्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
तान्them
तान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
नदन्तःroaring
नदन्तः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootनद्
FormPresent active participle (Śatṛ), Masculine, Nominative, Plural
अभ्यधावन्तran towards/charged at
अभ्यधावन्त:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootधाव्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), Third, Plural
द्रोणपुत्रमुखाःhaving Drona's son (Ashvatthaman) at the head
द्रोणपुत्रमुखाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootद्रोण-पुत्र-मुख
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
रथाःchariots (i.e., chariot-warriors)
रथाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
K
Karna
V
Vṛṣasena
A
Aśvatthāmā (Droṇa’s son)
D
Droṇa
C
chariots/chariot-warriors
A
arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the battlefield dynamic where overwhelming force provokes immediate counter-assault. Ethically, it reflects how anger and rivalry can intensify conflict, and how warriors, bound by kṣatriya codes, respond with swift retaliation rather than de-escalation.

One side showers arrows so densely that Karna’s son Vṛṣasena is completely covered and becomes ‘invisible.’ In response, Aśvatthāmā and other leading chariot-warriors roar and rush forward, unleashing heavy arrow-showers to cover the opposing fighters (contextually, the sons of Draupadī).