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Shloka 14

Rātri-yuddhe Droṇasya prahāraḥ — Bhīmasenasya dhārtarāṣṭra-śūrānām nigrahaḥ

Night Battle: Droṇa’s Assault and Bhīma’s Suppression of Dhārtarāṣṭra Warriors

यदा तु विशिखैस्ती&णैद्रोणचापविनि:सृतै: । वध्यन्ते समरे वीरा: शतशो5थ सहस्रश:

yadā tu viśikhaiḥ tīrṇai droṇacāpaviniḥsṛtaiḥ | vadhyante samare vīrāḥ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ ||

Sañjaya berkata: Namun apabila para wira di medan perang ditumbangkan—beratus-ratus lalu beribu-ribu—oleh anak panah yang meluncur dari busur Droṇa, maka gelanggang itu menjadi saksi akan dahsyatnya kuasa kepakaran dalam perang, serta harga moral yang berat apabila kepakaran itu dipalingkan menjadi pembantaian.

यदाwhen
यदा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयदा
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
विशिखैःwith arrows
विशिखैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootविशिख
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
तीक्ष्णैःsharp
तीक्ष्णैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootतीक्ष्ण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
द्रोणचापविनिःसृतैःshot forth from Droṇa's bow
द्रोणचापविनिःसृतैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootद्रोणचापविनिःसृत
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
वध्यन्तेare slain
वध्यन्ते:
TypeVerb
Rootवध्
FormPresent, Passive, Third, Plural
समरेin battle
समरे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसमर
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
वीराःheroes/warriors
वीराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवीर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
शतशःby hundreds
शतशः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootशतशस्
अथand then/also
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
सहस्रशःby thousands
सहस्रशः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसहस्रशस्

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Droṇa
D
Droṇa’s bow
A
arrows
W
warriors (vīrāḥ)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores how extraordinary martial skill, when exercised in war, results in mass death; it implicitly invites reflection on the ethical weight of kṣatriya action—prowess and duty on one side, and the immense human cost on the other.

Sañjaya describes the battlefield scene where Droṇa’s arrows, released from his bow, are killing warriors in vast numbers—hundreds and thousands—emphasizing Droṇa’s overwhelming effectiveness and the escalating carnage.