Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

द्रौणिस्तदपि राजेन्द्र भल्लै: क्षिप्रं महारथ:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

drauṇis tad api rājendra bhallaiḥ kṣipraṁ mahārathaḥ |

rājendra śīghratāpūrvaka-hasta-cālanavān sudṛḍhāyudha-dhārī vīra-mahārathī aśvatthāmā samara-aṅgaṇe anekaiḥ bhallaiḥ rathād avarohituṁ pūrvam eva dhṛṣṭadyumnasya tāṁ ḍhāla-tālavāraṁ api ciccheda |

etad adbhutam iva abhavat ||

Translation

द्रौणिस्तदपि राजेन्द्र भल्लैः क्षिप्रं महारथः। रथादनवरूढस्य चिच्छेदास्य चर्मासिं तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्॥

Word by Word

• द्रौणिः: Drona's son (Ashvatthaman)
• द्रौणिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• भल्लैः: with sharp arrows (bhallas)
• भल्लैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भल्ल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षिप्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• महारथः: the great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhritarashtra
• Ashvatthama (Drauni)
• Dhrishtadyumna
• battlefield
• chariot
• broad-headed arrows (bhalla)
• shield
• sword

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how extraordinary skill and speed in war can abruptly overturn an opponent’s readiness; it also underscores the grim momentum of battle, where prowess intensifies violence and drives the conflict toward harsher consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Ashvatthama, using many broad-headed arrows, swiftly severs Dhrishtadyumna’s shield and sword before Dhrishtadyumna can even get down from his chariot—an act described as astonishing.