Shloka 44

Devanagari script

शरव्रातैर्विंधुन्वन्त: शत्रून्‌ विततकार्मुका: । समानमृत्यवो भूत्वा धृष्टद्युम्न॑ समन्वयु:,इनके सिवा छ: हजार काम्बोजदेशीय प्रभद्रक नामवाले योद्धा हथियार उठाये, भाँति-भाँतिके श्रेष्ठ घोड़ोंसे जुते हुए सुनहरे रंगके रथ और ध्वजासे सम्पन्न हो धनुष फैलाये अपने बाणसमूहोंद्वारा शत्रुओंको भयसे कम्पित करते हुए सब समानरूपसे मृत्युको स्वीकार करनेके लिये उद्यत हो धृष्टद्युम्नके पीछे- पीछे जा रहे थे

Transliteration

śaravrātair vindhunvantaḥ śatrūn vitatakārmukāḥ | samānamṛtyavo bhūtvā dhṛṣṭadyumnam samanvayuḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Dengan busur direntang sepenuhnya, mereka menggoncang dan menggentarkan musuh dengan hujan anak panah. Dengan tekad yang sama untuk menyongsong maut tanpa berpaling, mereka mara rapat dalam barisan, mengikuti Dhṛṣṭadyumna.

Word by Word

शरव्रातैःwith volleys of arrows

विधुन्वन्तःshaking, causing to tremble

शत्रून्enemies

विततकार्मुकाःwith bows stretched

समानमृत्यवःhaving equal death (ready alike to die)

भूत्वाhaving become

धृष्टद्युम्नम्Dhrishtadyumna

समन्वयुःfollowed, went after

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛṣṭadyumna

enemies (śatravaḥ)

bows (kārmuka)

arrows (śara)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the warrior ethic of steadfastness: combatants, fully prepared and united in resolve, accept the possibility of death as the price of duty and allegiance to their leader. It frames courage and commitment as moral qualities even within the harsh reality of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a group of warriors with strung bows advancing behind Dhṛṣṭadyumna, unleashing dense arrow-volley that makes the opposing side tremble. The emphasis is on coordinated advance, intimidation through missile fire, and collective readiness to die.