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Shloka 24

अध्याय ५०: उत्तरेण सह अर्जुनस्य रथप्रयाणे ध्वजचिह्नैः कौरवसेनानिर्देशः

Arjuna directs Uttara by identifying Kaurava commanders through banners

नाक्षान्‌ क्षिपति गाण्डीवं न कृतं द्वापरं न च । ज्वलतो निशितान्‌ बाणांस्तांस्तान्‌ क्षिपति गाण्डिवम्‌,गाण्डीव धनुष कृतयुग, द्वापर और त्रेता नामक पासे नहीं फेंकता है, वह तो लगातार तीखे और प्रज्वलित बाणोंकी वर्षा करता है

nā kṣān kṣipati gāṇḍīvaṃ na kṛtaṃ dvāparaṃ na ca | jvalato niśitān bāṇāṃs tāṃs tāṃs kṣipati gāṇḍivam ||

नाक्षान् क्षिपति गाण्डीवं न कृतं द्वापरं न च। ज्वलतो निशितान् बाणांस्तांस्तान् क्षिपति गाण्डिवम्॥

not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अक्षान्dice
अक्षान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअक्ष
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
क्षिपतिthrows/casts
क्षिपति:
TypeVerb
Rootक्षिप्
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
गाण्डीवम्Gāṇḍīva (Arjuna's bow)
गाण्डीवम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगाण्डीव
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
कृतम्Kṛta (the highest dice-throw)
कृतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकृत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
द्वापरम्Dvāpara (a dice-throw)
द्वापरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootद्वापर
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
ज्वलतःblazing
ज्वलतः:
TypeAdjective
Rootज्वलत्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
निशितान्sharp, whetted
निशितान्:
TypeAdjective
Rootनिशित
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
बाणान्arrows
बाणान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootबाण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
तान्those
तान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
तान्those (again; distributive emphasis)
तान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
क्षिपतिthrows/casts
क्षिपति:
TypeVerb
Rootक्षिप्
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
गाण्डिवम्Gāṇḍīva (bow)
गाण्डिवम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगाण्डिव
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular

कृप उवाच

K
Kṛpa
G
Gāṇḍīva
D
dice (akṣa)
K
Kṛta (dice-throw/age term)
D
Dvāpara (dice-throw/age term)
A
arrows (bāṇa)

Educational Q&A

The verse contrasts gambling with disciplined martial action: instead of relying on chance (dice-throws like Kṛta and Dvāpara), true kṣatriya excellence is shown through focused effort and repeated, purposeful action—here symbolized by the relentless discharge of sharp, blazing arrows.

Kṛpa comments on the extraordinary combat display associated with Gāṇḍīva (and implicitly its wielder, Arjuna): it is not ‘throwing dice’ but continuously ‘throwing’ arrows, using the language of dice-throws as a metaphor to emphasize the speed and intensity of the arrow-volley.