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Shloka 34

अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः

Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon

एकच्छायमिवाकाशं बाणैक्षक्रे समन्‍्ततः । नादृश्यत तदा द्रोणो नीहारेणेव संवृत:,रथसे विचरनेवाले कुन्तीपुत्र धनंजय सबके लिये दर्शनीय हो रहे थे। उन्होंने सब दिशाओंमें एक ही साथ अस्त्रोंकी वर्षा दिखायी और आकाशको चारों ओरसे बाणोंद्वारा ढेककर एकमात्र अन्धकारमें निमग्न-सा कर दिया। उस समय आचार्य द्रोण कुहरेसे ढके हुएकी भाँति अदृश्य हो गये

ekacchāyam ivākāśaṃ bāṇaiś cakre samantataḥ | nādṛśyata tadā droṇo nīhāreṇeva saṃvṛtaḥ ||

Vaiśampāyana berkata: Arjuna memenuhi langit di setiap sisi dengan hujan anak panah yang tidak putus-putus sehingga langit tampak menjadi satu gumpal bayang-bayang. Dalam tirai yang menyilaukan itu, Droṇa tidak lagi kelihatan, seolah-olah diselubungi kabus—suatu gambaran bahawa penguasaan senjata dapat seketika mengatasi bahkan seorang guru yang dihormati, sementara ketegangan etika antara keperkasaan dan penghormatan tetap belum terlerai.

एकच्छायम्as (having) one shadow / one shade
एकच्छायम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootएकच्छाया
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
इवlike, as if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
आकाशम्the sky
आकाशम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआकाश
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
बाणैःwith arrows
बाणैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootबाण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
चक्रेmade, did
चक्रे:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
समन्ततःon all sides, all around
समन्ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसमन्ततः
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अदृश्यतwas seen / appeared
अदृश्यत:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada
तदाthen, at that time
तदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा
द्रोणःDrona
द्रोणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootद्रोण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नीहारेणby mist, with fog
नीहारेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootनीहार
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
इवlike, as if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
संवृतःcovered, enveloped
संवृतः:
TypeAdjective
Rootसंवृत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
D
Droṇa
A
Arjuna
Ā
ākāśa (sky)
B
bāṇa (arrows)
N
nīhāra (mist/fog)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the overwhelming power of disciplined skill: concentrated action can transform perception itself (the sky becomes ‘one shadow’), yet it also evokes an ethical tension—martial excellence may obscure even venerable figures, reminding readers to balance prowess with discernment and respect.

Arjuna releases such a dense, all-directional volley of arrows that the sky appears darkened; amid this arrow-veil, Droṇa is no longer visible, compared to someone hidden by fog.