Shloka 16
(शक्तिभिस्तोमरै: प्रासै: कुणपै: कूटमुद्गरै: । शूलैस्त्रिशूलै: परिघै: भिन्दिपालै: परश्चधै: ।।
sañjaya uvāca |
śaktibhis tomaraiḥ prāsaiḥ kuṇapaiḥ kūṭamudgaraiḥ |
śūlais triśūlaiḥ parighair bhindipālaiḥ paraśvadhaiḥ ||
karavālair hemadaṇḍair yaṣṭibhīr musalair halaiḥ |
parihṛṣṭāś cakrire pārtha samantād gūḍham āyudhaiḥ ||
tato 'rjunaḥ sahasrāṇi rathavāraṇavājinām |
preṣayām āsa viśikhair yamasya sadanaṃ prati ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ହର୍ଷିତ ଯୋଦ୍ଧାମାନେ ଶକ୍ତି, ତୋମର, ପ୍ରାସ, କୁଣପ, କୂଟ, ମୁଦ୍ଗର, ଶୂଳ, ତ୍ରିଶୂଳ, ପରିଘ, ଭିନ୍ଦିପାଳ, ପରଶୁ, ଖଡ୍ଗ, ହେମଦଣ୍ଡ, ଦଣ୍ଡ, ମୁସଳ ଓ ହଳ ଆଦି ଗୂଢ଼ ଆୟୁଧରେ ପାର୍ଥଙ୍କୁ ସମସ୍ତ ଦିଗରୁ ଢାକିଦେଲେ। ତାପରେ ପାର୍ଥ ନିଜ ବାଣଦ୍ୱାରା ଶତ୍ରୁପକ୍ଷର ସହସ୍ର ସହସ୍ର ରଥ, ହାତୀ ଓ ଘୋଡ଼ାକୁ ଯମସଦନ ପ୍ରତି ପଠାଇବାକୁ ଆରମ୍ଭ କଲେ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of war: exhilaration and aggression on the battlefield quickly culminate in death, while disciplined mastery (Arjuna’s focused archery) determines outcomes. It implicitly reminds the listener that in battle, Yama’s law—mortality—stands behind every act, urging sobriety and responsibility even amid heroic duty.
Arjuna is surrounded from all sides by delighted enemy fighters who shower him with many kinds of weapons. In response, Arjuna counters with a devastating volley of arrows, killing large numbers—charioteers, elephants, and horses—sending them to Yama’s abode (i.e., to death).