Shloka 7

Āśvamedhika Parva, Adhyāya 77 — Saindhava resistance, Arjuna’s restraint, and Duḥśalā’s supplication

Devanagari script

ते किरन्त: शरव्रातान्‌ वारणप्रतिवारणान्‌ । रणे जयमभीप्सन्त: कौन्तेयं पर्यवारयन्‌ ७ ।।

Transliteration

te kirantaḥ śaravrātān vāraṇaprativāraṇān | raṇe jayam abhīpsantaḥ kaunteyaṃ paryavārayan 7 ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ସେମାନେ ଏମିତି ଶରସମୂହ ବର୍ଷା କରୁଥିଲେ ଯାହା ହାତୀମାନଙ୍କ ଅଗ୍ରଗତିକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ରୋକିଦେଇପାରେ; ରଣରେ ଜୟ ଆକାଂକ୍ଷାରେ ସେମାନେ କୌନ୍ତେୟଙ୍କୁ ଚାରିଦିଗରୁ ଘେରିଲେ। (7)

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• किरन्तः: scattering, showering
• किरन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॄ (किरति)
• Form: Present active participle (Parasmaipada), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शरव्रातान्: masses/volleys of arrows
• शरव्रातान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरव्रात
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• वारणप्रतिवारणान्: elephant-stopping; preventing elephants (from advancing)
• वारणप्रतिवारणान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वारण-प्रतिवारण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• जयम्: victory
• जयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभीप्सन्तः: desiring, wishing for
• अभीप्सन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (इप्सति) + अभि
• Form: Present active participle (Parasmaipada), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कौन्तेयम्: Kunti's son (Arjuna)
• कौन्तेयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: कौन्तेय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पर्यवारयन्: they surrounded/hemmed in
• पर्यवारयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (वारयति) + परि
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Parasmaipada, Third, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kaunteya (Arjuna)
• arrows (śara)
• elephants (vāraṇa)
• battlefield (raṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension in warfare: the drive for victory can become an overpowering collective force, yet the dharmic ideal for a kṣatriya is steadiness and disciplined courage even when surrounded and outnumbered.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group of fighters rains down heavy volleys of arrows—described as capable of stopping even elephants—and, intent on winning the battle, they encircle Kaunteya (Arjuna) on the battlefield.