Shloka 17
द्रोणस्य सुपर्णव्यूहः — युधिष्ठिरप्रत्यव्यूहः
Droṇa’s Suparṇa Formation and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Counter-array
ते हन्यमाना वीरेण क्षत्रिया: कालचोदिता: । व्यसृजज्छरजालानि पार्थ नानाविधानि च,वीर अर्जुनके द्वारा मारे जाते हुए क्षत्रियगण कालसे प्रेरित हो अर्जुनके ऊपर नाना प्रकारके बाणसमूहोंकी वर्षा करने लगे
te hanyamānā vīreṇa kṣatriyāḥ kālacoditāḥ | vyasṛjaj charajālāni pārtha nānāvidhāni ca ||
ಆ ವೀರನಿಂದ ಹೊಡೆತಕ್ಕೊಳಗಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದರೂ, ಕಾಲದಿಂದ ಪ್ರೇರಿತರಾದ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯರು—ಓ ಪಾರ್ಥ—ಅರ್ಜುನನ ಮೇಲೆ ನಾನಾವಿಧ ಶರಜಾಲಗಳನ್ನು ಸುರಿಸಿದರು।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s recurring insight that in war, human effort and valor operate under the shadow of kāla (Time/destiny). Even as they fall, the kṣatriyas continue their duty to fight, illustrating the harsh battlefield ethic where courage and obligation persist despite inevitable loss.
Sañjaya describes kṣatriya warriors being cut down by Arjuna, yet—driven by kāla—they respond by showering Arjuna with many kinds of arrow-volleys, intensifying the exchange of missiles in the battle.