Mahabharata 9.21.11 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 11

Adhyāya 21 — Duryodhanasya bāṇavarṣaḥ

Duryodhana’s Arrow-Storm and the Dust-Obscured Engagements

Devanagari script

फिर तो उत्तम अस्त्र-शस्त्र धारण करनेवाले, रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ, महापराक्रमी, धनुर्धर वीर सात्वतवंशी सात्यकि और कृतवर्मा एक-दूसरेपर धावा करने लगे ।।

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | tataḥ paramāstra-śastra-dhāriṇaḥ rathināṃ śreṣṭhā mahāparākramāḥ dhanurdharā vīrāḥ sātvata-vaṃśyau sātyakiś ca kṛtavarmā ca parasparaṃ samāhantuṃ pracakramatuḥ || pāṇḍavāḥ saha-pañcālā yādavāś cānye nṛpottamāḥ | prekṣakāḥ samapadyanta tayor ghore samāgame ||

Translation

Sañjaya disse: Então os heroicos arqueiros Sātyaki e Kṛtavarmā—ambos da linhagem Sātvata, os mais eminentes entre os guerreiros de carro, portando armas excelentes e ardendo em grande bravura—arremeteram um contra o outro para golpear. Os Pāṇḍava, juntamente com os Pañcāla, os Yādava e outros reis ilustres, reuniram-se como espectadores para testemunhar o terrível encontro.

Word by Word

• पाण्डवाः: the Pandavas
• पाण्डवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

• पाञ्चालाः: the Panchalas
• पाञ्चालाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• यादवाः: the Yadavas
• यादवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यादव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

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

• नृपोत्तमाः: best of kings
• नृपोत्तमाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप-उत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रेक्षकाः: spectators/onlookers
• प्रेक्षकाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेक्षक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• समपद्यन्त: became / came to be
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पद्
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• तयोः: of those two
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Dual

• घोरे: terrible (in)
• घोरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• समागमे: encounter/battle
• समागमे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समागम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Sātyaki (Yuyudhāna)
• Kṛtavarmā
• Pāṇḍavas
• Pañcālas
• Yādavas
• chariots
• weapons (astra-śastra)
• bows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the tragic intensity of war: even renowned heroes of noble lineage rush into mutual harm, while allied kings watch. It invites reflection on the ethical weight of violence and how fame, duty, and rivalry can eclipse restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sātyaki and Kṛtavarmā, both celebrated chariot-warriors, charge at each other to fight. The Pāṇḍavas, Pañcālas, Yādavas, and other kings assemble as spectators to witness their fierce clash.