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Shloka 24

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 47 — Abhimanyu’s rapid exchanges, counsel to disable his chariot-system

तथा बृहद्बलं हत्वा सौभद्रो व्यचरद्‌ रणे । व्यष्टम्भयन्महेष्वासो योधांस्तव शराम्बुभि:,इस प्रकार महाधनुर्धर अभिमन्यु बृहदबलका वध करके आपके योद्धाओंको अपने बाणरूपी जलकी वर्षसे स्तब्ध करता हुआ रणक्षेत्रमें विचरने लगा

tathā bṛhadbalaṁ hatvā saubhadro vyacarad raṇe | vyaṣṭambhayan maheṣvāso yodhāṁs tava śarāmbubhiḥ ||

サञ्जयは語った。かくしてブリハダバラを討ち取ったのち、サウバドラ(アビマンニュ)なる大弓手は戦場を駆け巡り、矢を水の奔流のごとく降らせて、汝の兵を押しとどめ、呆然とさせた—若き武勇が、苛烈な戦の掟の中で、執拗にして規律ある力へと転じた姿である。

तथाthus, in that manner
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
बृहद्बलम्Bṛhadbala (the mighty-strong one)
बृहद्बलम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootबृहद्बल
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
हत्वाhaving slain
हत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
FormAbsolutive (ktvā), Parasmaipada (usage)
सौभद्रःthe son of Subhadrā (Abhimanyu)
सौभद्रः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसौभद्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
व्यचरद्moved about, roamed
व्यचरद्:
TypeVerb
Rootवि + चर्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
रणेin battle
रणे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरण
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
व्यष्टम्भयन्paralyzing, stunning, arresting
व्यष्टम्भयन्:
TypeVerb
Rootवि + स्तम्भ्
FormPresent active participle (śatṛ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
महेष्वासःthe great bowman
महेष्वासः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहेष्वास
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
योधान्warriors
योधान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootयोध
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
तवyour
तव:
Sambandha
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormGenitive, Singular
शर-अम्बुभिःwith arrow-waters (i.e., showers of arrows)
शर-अम्बुभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशर-अम्बु
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
A
Abhimanyu (Saubhadra)
B
Bṛhadbala
K
Kaurava warriors
A
arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights kṣatriya-duty expressed as disciplined martial action: after defeating a key opponent, Abhimanyu does not lapse into pride or pause, but continues to restrain enemy forces effectively. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s tension between necessary violence in war and the ideal of controlled, purposeful force rather than cruelty.

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Abhimanyu, having slain Bṛhadbala, ranges across the battlefield and overwhelms the Kaurava fighters with dense volleys of arrows, described metaphorically as a drenching rain that immobilizes and checks their advance.