Shloka 18
Devanagari script
अस्त्राण्यन्ये समुत्सृज्य निद्रान्धा: शेरते जना:
Transliteration
astrāṇy anye samutsṛjya nidrāndhāḥ śerate janāḥ
Translation
सञ्जय उवाच—अस्त्राण्यन्ये समुत्सृज्य निद्रान्धाः शेरते जनाः।
Word by Word
अस्त्राणिweapons
अस्त्राणि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअस्त्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
अन्येothers
अन्ये:
Karta
TypePronoun/Adjective
Rootअन्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
समुत्सृज्यhaving cast away/abandoned
समुत्सृज्य:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्+उत्+सृज्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund), prior action
निद्रान्धाःsleep-blinded, stupefied by sleep
निद्रान्धाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनिद्रान्ध
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
शेरतेlie down, sleep
शेरते:
TypeVerb
Rootशी (शे)
FormLat (Present), Atmanepada, Third, Plural
जनाःpeople
जनाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
A
astrāṇi (weapons)J
janāḥ (people/warriors)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Even amid grave duties, human weakness—especially exhaustion—can cloud judgment. The verse cautions that neglecting vigilance and preparedness (symbolized by abandoning weapons) invites danger and can become an ethical lapse when one’s role demands alertness.
Sañjaya reports that some combatants, overwhelmed by sleep, have thrown aside their weapons and are lying down. It depicts a lull or breakdown in readiness within the battlefield setting, highlighting the precariousness of the moment.