Shloka 4

तावेतौ रथिनां श्रेष्ठी रथाभ्यां रथसत्तमौ | उभावुभयतस्ती ६णैर्विशिखैरभ्यवर्षताम्‌,रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ वे दोनों महारथी दो दिशाओंसे आकर अर्जुनपर पैने बाणोंकी वर्षा करने लगे

tāvetau rathināṁ śreṣṭhī rathābhyāṁ rathasattamau | ubhāv ubhayatas tīkṣṇair viśikhair abhyavarṣatām ||

రథయోధుల్లో శ్రేష్ఠులైన ఆ ఇద్దరు మహారథులు తమ తమ రథాలతో ముందుకు వచ్చి, రెండు వైపుల నుంచీ అర్జునునిపై పదునైన బాణవర్షం కురిపించారు.

तौthose two
तौ:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
एतौthese two
एतौ:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
रथिनाम्of chariot-warriors
रथिनाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरथिन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
श्रेष्ठीthe best (two)
श्रेष्ठी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootश्रेष्ठिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
रथाभ्याम्with (their) two chariots
रथाभ्याम्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Dual
रथसत्तमौthe best of chariot-warriors
रथसत्तमौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootरथसत्तम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
उभौboth
उभौ:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootउभ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
उभयतःfrom both sides/directions
उभयतः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootउभयतः
Formtrue
तीक्ष्णैःwith sharp
तीक्ष्णैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootतीक्ष्ण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
विशिखैःarrows
विशिखैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootविशिख
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
अभ्यवर्षताम्they two rained down (upon)
अभ्यवर्षताम्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-√वृष्
FormImperfect, 3rd, Dual, Parasmaipada

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
T
two foremost chariot-warriors (unnamed in this verse)
A
Arjuna
C
chariots
A
arrows (viśikha)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how, in war, excellence and coordinated strategy can intensify violence—two elite warriors attack from both sides. Implicitly, it points to the Mahābhārata’s recurring ethical tension: even when combat is framed as duty, the reality of harm and relentless aggression remains morally weighty.

Sañjaya describes two top chariot-fighters advancing in their chariots and jointly assaulting Arjuna, striking from both directions and showering him with sharp arrows.