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Shloka 21

Śalya’s Objection to Sārathya and Duryodhana’s Conciliation (शल्यमन्यु-प्रशमनम् / Sārathyāṅgīkāra)

ततो बाणमयं जाल विततं व्योम्नि दृश्यते । खटद्योतानामिव व्रातैः सम्पतद्धिर्यथा नभ:,तत्पश्चात्‌ आकाशमें बाणोंका जाल-सा बिछा हुआ दिखायी देने लगा, मानो वहाँ जुगनुओंके समूह उड़ रहे हों

tato bāṇamayaṃ jālaṃ vitataṃ vyomni dṛśyate | khaṭadyotānām iva vrātaiḥ sampataddhir yathā nabhaḥ ||

ततो बाणमयं जालं विततं व्योम्नि दृश्यते। खटद्योतानामिव व्रातैः सम्पतद्भिर्यथा नभः॥

ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
बाणमयम्made of arrows
बाणमयम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबाणमय
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
जालम्net, mesh
जालम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजाल
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
विततम्spread out, extended
विततम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवि-तत (क्त)
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
व्योम्निin the sky
व्योम्नि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootव्योमन्
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
दृश्यतेis seen, appears
दृश्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormPresent, Atmanepada (passive-like usage), Third, Singular
खटद्योतानाम्of fireflies
खटद्योतानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootखटद्योत
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
इवlike, as if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
व्रातैःby groups, in swarms
व्रातैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootव्रात
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
सम्पतद्भिःflying together, rushing/falling upon
सम्पतद्भिः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootसम्-पत् (शतृ)
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
यथाas, just as
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
नभःthe sky
नभः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनभस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
A
arrows (bāṇa)
S
sky/heavens (vyoman/nabhas)
F
fireflies (khaṭadyota)

Educational Q&A

The verse does not state a direct moral injunction; it intensifies the ethical atmosphere of war by showing how martial prowess can saturate the very sky with weapons. It implicitly invites reflection on the scale of violence and the consequences of choosing conflict.

Sanjaya describes the battlefield moment when volleys of arrows become so numerous that they form a net-like spread across the sky, resembling swarms of fireflies in motion.