Shloka 16
(शक्तिभिस्तोमरै: प्रासै: कुणपै: कूटमुद्गरै: । शूलैस्त्रिशूलै: परिघै: भिन्दिपालै: परश्चधै: ।।
sañjaya uvāca |
śaktibhis tomaraiḥ prāsaiḥ kuṇapaiḥ kūṭamudgaraiḥ |
śūlais triśūlaiḥ parighair bhindipālaiḥ paraśvadhaiḥ ||
karavālair hemadaṇḍair yaṣṭibhīr musalair halaiḥ |
parihṛṣṭāś cakrire pārtha samantād gūḍham āyudhaiḥ ||
tato 'rjunaḥ sahasrāṇi rathavāraṇavājinām |
preṣayām āsa viśikhair yamasya sadanaṃ prati ||
サンジャヤは言った。戦の歓喜に酔った戦士たちは、パールタ（アルジュナ）を四方から取り囲み、濃密な武器の嵐で覆い尽くした――槍と投槍、長槍、棍棒と鉄槌、矛と三叉戟、鉄の棒、ビンディパーラ、斧、剣、黄金の杖、棒、杵、そして鋤に至るまで。だがアルジュナは揺るがぬ武威でその包囲に応え、矢をもって敵の戦車・象・馬の幾千をヤマの住処へと送り始めた。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of war: exhilaration and aggression on the battlefield quickly culminate in death, while disciplined mastery (Arjuna’s focused archery) determines outcomes. It implicitly reminds the listener that in battle, Yama’s law—mortality—stands behind every act, urging sobriety and responsibility even amid heroic duty.
Arjuna is surrounded from all sides by delighted enemy fighters who shower him with many kinds of weapons. In response, Arjuna counters with a devastating volley of arrows, killing large numbers—charioteers, elephants, and horses—sending them to Yama’s abode (i.e., to death).