Shloka 85

कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९

Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces

Devanagari script

दशभिर्दशभिश्नैको नाराचैर्निहतो गज: । न चासौ धार्तराष्ट्राणां श्रूयते निनदस्तथा

Transliteration

daśabhir daśabhiś caiko nārācair nihato gajaḥ | na cāsau dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ śrūyate ninadas tathā ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。鋭いナーラーチャの矢を十、さらに十と放ち、一人の戦士が一頭の象を倒した。だがダールタラーシュトラ軍の中には、それに応えるような轟く鬨の声は起こらず、勇気を奮い立たせる呼び声も聞かれなかった。

Word by Word

दशभिःwith ten

नnot

एकःone (man/warrior)

नाराचैःwith iron arrows

निहतःslain/struck down

गजःthe elephant

नnot

चand

असौthat (one), he/it

धार्तराष्ट्राणाम्of the Dhārtarāṣṭras (Kauravas)

श्रूयतेis heard

निनदःroar/sound

तथाthus/so, in that manner

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhārtarāṣṭras (Kauravas)

gaja (elephant)

nārāca (arrow/weapon)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how battlefield prowess should ideally be matched by collective resolve: a striking feat occurs, yet the Dhārtarāṣṭra side shows no corresponding rallying roar, suggesting faltering morale and the ethical importance (for kṣatriyas) of steadfast courage and unity in crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a single fighter kills an elephant using twenty nārāca arrows (ten and ten). Despite this dramatic act, the Kaurava host (Dhārtarāṣṭras) does not produce the expected loud acclamation or war-cry, indicating a subdued or shaken response.