Mahabharata 7.97.26 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 97, Shloka 26

शैनेयचरितम्

The Exploits of Śaineya/Sātyaki amid Encirclement

Devanagari script

अर्करश्मिविभिश्रेषु शस्त्रेषु कवचेषु च । चक्षूंषि प्रत्यहन्यन्त सैन्येन रजसा तथा

Transliteration

arkaraśmivibhiśreṣu śastreṣu kavaceṣu ca | cakṣūṃṣi pratyahanyanta sainyena rajasā tathā ||

Translation

సంజయుడు అన్నాడు—అస్త్రశస్త్రాలపై, కవచాలపై సూర్యకిరణాలు పడటంతో కళ్ళు పదేపదే మిరుమిట్లు గొలిపేవి; సేన లేపిన ధూళి అంతగా ఎగసి, అందరి కళ్ళూ మూసుకుపోయేవి।

Word by Word

• अर्क: of the sun
• अर्क: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (in compound), Singular

• रश्मि: by rays
• रश्मि: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रश्मि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (in compound), Plural

• विभिश्रेषु: in/among the shining (ones)
• विभिश्रेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभि (विभि/विभु?) + श्रि (श्रेयस्/श्री?)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Locative, Plural

• शस्त्रेषु: on weapons
• शस्त्रेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• कवचेषु: on armours
• कवचेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• चक्षूंषि: eyes
• चक्षूंषि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• प्रति: towards/against; (intensifier with verb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

• अहन्यन्त: were struck/afflicted (were dazzled)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Ātmanepada (passive-like sense here), 3rd, Plural

• सैन्येन: by the army
• सैन्येन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• रजसा: by dust
• रजसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• तथा: so/likewise/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• अर्क (the Sun)
• शस्त्र (weapons)
• कवच (armor)
• सैन्य (army)
• रजस् (dust)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores a moral-psychological truth of warfare: even nature’s neutral elements—sunlight and dust—become forces that impair clarity. It hints that in battle, discernment (viveka) is easily clouded, so ethical restraint and disciplined judgment are especially difficult yet crucial.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the battlefield conditions: sunlight flashing off weapons and armor dazzles the fighters’ eyes, while the army’s movement raises thick dust that makes people shut their eyes. The description intensifies the sense of chaos and sensory overload during the fighting.