Shloka 24

Bhīṣma–Karṇa Saṃvāda on the Śaraśayyā (भीष्म–कर्ण संवादः शरशय्यायाम्)

Devanagari script

ततो बर्हिणवाजानामयुतानन्‍्यर्बुदानि च । धनंजयरयथे तूर्ण पातयन्ति सम भूमिपा:

Transliteration

tato barhiṇavājānām ayutāny arbudāni ca | dhanañjaya-rathe tūrṇaṁ pātayanti sma bhūmipāḥ || ekaikaṁ tribhir ānarccchat kaḍuka-barhiṇavājitaiḥ |

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ତାପରେ ଅନେକ ରାଜା ଏକତ୍ର ହୋଇ ଧନଞ୍ଜୟଙ୍କ ରଥ ଉପରେ ତୁରନ୍ତ ଅୟୁତ ଓ ଅର୍ବୁଦ ସଂଖ୍ୟାର, ମୟୂରପିଛ୍ଛ-ଶୋଭିତ ଅସଂଖ୍ୟ ବାଣ ବର୍ଷା କଲେ। କିନ୍ତୁ ପାର୍ଥ ଅର୍ଜୁନ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ପ୍ରତିଦ୍ୱନ୍ଦ୍ୱୀକୁ କ୍ରମେ ରୋକି, ତିନି-ତିନି ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣ ମୟୂରପିଛ୍ଛଯୁକ୍ତ ବାଣରେ ବିଦ୍ଧ କରି, ବିଶେଷ ପୀଡ଼ା ଦେଇ ତାଙ୍କର ଅଗ୍ରଗତି ଅଟକାଇଲେ।

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• बर्हिण-वाजानाम्: of peacock-feathered horses
• Type: Noun
• Root: बर्हिणवाज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अयुतान्: ten-thousands (in number)
• अयुतान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयुत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अर्बुदानि: arbuda-s (very large numbers)
• अर्बुदानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्बुद
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• धनंजय-रथे: on Dhanañjaya's chariot
• धनंजय-रथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजयरथ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तूर्णम्: swiftly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्णम्

• पातयन्ति: they cause to fall / they shower down
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (पातयति)
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada, 10

• सम्: together, completely (prefix-like)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्

• भूमिपाः: kings
• भूमिपाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमिप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• एक-एकम्: each one (individually)
• एक-एकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकैक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• आनर्च्छत्: he reached/struck (them)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ऋच्छ् (आ-ऋच्छति)
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कडुक-बर्हिण-वाजितैः: with arrows having (hard) peacock-feathered fletching
• कडुक-बर्हिण-वाजितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कडुकबर्हिणवाजित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma Parva
• Arjuna (Dhanañjaya)
• Arjuna’s chariot (ratha)
• kings (bhūmipāḥ)
• peacock-feathered arrows (barhiṇavājāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadiness and disciplined response under overwhelming pressure: even when many rulers unleash a massive volley, the righteous warrior maintains focus and counters with measured, effective force—an ethic of duty (kṣatriya-dharma) expressed through control, precision, and courage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a coordinated attack in which numerous kings shower Arjuna’s chariot with vast numbers of peacock-feathered arrows. Arjuna answers by striking each adversary with three keen arrows, causing them pain and halting their momentum despite the massed assault.