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Shloka 35

कर्णपर्व — पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः | Karṇa Parva, Chapter 15: Pāṇḍya’s Advance and Aśvatthāmā’s Counterstroke

कर्णाभ्यां शिरसोड्ड्रेभ्यो लोमवर्मभ्य एव च | रथध्वजेभ्यश्व शरा निष्पेतुर्ब्रह्यवादिन:,मान्यवर! उस समय वेदवादी अश्वत्थामाके तरकस, धनुष, प्रत्यंचा, बाँह, हाथ, छाती, मुख, नाक, आँख, कान, सिर, भिन्न-भिन्न अंग, रोम, कवच, रथ और ध्वजोंसे भी बाण निकल रहे थे

karṇābhyāṁ śiraso ḍḍrebhyo lomavarmabhya eva ca | rathadhvajebhyaśvaśarā niṣpetur brahmavādinaḥ ||

ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಮಾನ್ಯವರೇ! ಆ ವೇಳೆ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮವಾದಿ ದ್ರೌಣಿಯ ಕಿವಿಗಳಿಂದ, ತಲೆಯಿಂದ, ಅಂಗಗಳಿಂದ, ದೇಹರೋಮಗಳಿಂದ ಮತ್ತು ಕವಚದಿಂದ; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ರಥ, ಧ್ವಜ ಮತ್ತು ಕುದುರೆಗಳಿಂದಲೂ ಬಾಣಗಳು ಸಿಡಿದು ಹೊರಬರುತ್ತಿರುವಂತೆ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿತ್ತು.

कर्णाभ्याम्from (the two) ears
कर्णाभ्याम्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्ण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Dual
शिरसःfrom the head
शिरसः:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootशिरस्
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
उड्ड्रेभ्यःfrom the upper parts / prominences
उड्ड्रेभ्यः:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootउड्ड्र
FormMasculine, Ablative, Plural
लोमवर्मभ्यःfrom the hair and armor (lit. hair-armor)
लोमवर्मभ्यः:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootलोमवर्मन्
FormNeuter, Ablative, Plural
एवindeed/also
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
रथध्वजेभ्यःfrom the chariot-banners
रथध्वजेभ्यः:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootरथध्वज
FormMasculine, Ablative, Plural
अश्वात्from the horse
अश्वात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootअश्व
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
शराःarrows
शराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
निष्पेतुःsprang forth / shot out
निष्पेतुः:
TypeVerb
Rootनि-√पत्
FormPerfect, 3rd, Plural
ब्रह्यवादिनःVeda-chanters / Brahma-speakers
ब्रह्यवादिनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्यवादिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
A
arrows (śarāḥ)
C
chariots (ratha)
B
banners/standards (dhvaja)
H
horses (aśva)
A
armour (varman)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the paradox of dharma in wartime: even those identified as brahmavādins (learned, Veda-speaking men) can become instruments of immense violence. It invites reflection on how learning and spiritual identity do not automatically prevent destructive action when one is swept into adharma-tinged conflict.

Sañjaya describes an overwhelming volley of arrows, using hyperbolic imagery—arrows seem to fly from bodies, armour, chariots, banners, and horses—conveying the terrifying intensity of the battle and the extraordinary martial display of the combatants.