Shloka 22

Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 58 — Arjuna’s Arrow-Storm and Relief of Bhīmasena

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा सुभृशं वीरं शीघ्रकृन्निशितै: शरै: । पार्षत॑ छादयामास घोररूपै: सुतेजनै:

Transliteration

ity uktvā subhṛśaṃ vīraṃ śīghrakṛn niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | pārṣataḥ chādayāmāsa ghorarūpaiḥ sutejanaiḥ ||

Translation

Санджая сказал: Сказав так, он тотчас осыпал того могучего воина острыми стрелами, покрыв сына Пришаты грозными, пылающими древками — образ неотступной воинской решимости, когда слово на поле брани мгновенно обращается в дело.

Word by Word

इतिthus

उक्त्वाhaving said

सुभृशम्exceedingly, very much

वीरम्the hero/warrior

शीघ्रकृत्the swift-doer (name/epithet)

निशितैःwith sharp

शरैःarrows

पार्षतःthe son of Pṛṣat (Drupada)/Pārṣata

छादयामासcovered, showered (covered over)

घोररूपैःwith terrible-formed (dreadful-looking)

सुतेजनैःwith very-brilliant (highly radiant)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Pārṣata (Dhṛṣṭadyumna, son of Drupada/Pṛṣata)

arrows (śara)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of decisive action: words are immediately followed by swift execution in battle. Ethically, it underscores how martial duty in the epic often manifests as relentless, skillful violence directed toward an opponent, emphasizing resolve and capability rather than hesitation.

What is happening in the narrative?

After speaking, the attacker rapidly releases a dense volley of sharp arrows, overwhelming and ‘covering’ Pārṣata (Dhṛṣṭadyumna) with dreadful, blazing shafts—depicting an intense exchange in the Karṇa Parva battle sequence.