Shloka 36

Devanagari script

बहुभिश्चैकमत्यस्यन्नेकेन च बहून्जनान्।विनियोक्ष्याम्यहं बाणान्नृवाजिगजमर्मसु।।।।

Transliteration

bahubhiś caikam atyasyan ekena ca bahūn janān | viniyokṣyāmy ahaṃ bāṇān nṛvājigajamarmasu || 2.23.36 ||

Translation

అనేక బాణాలతో ఒక్కనిని ఛేదిస్తూ, ఒక్క బాణంతో అనేక మందిని గాయపరుస్తూ, నేను మనుష్యులు, గుర్రాలు, ఏనుగుల మర్మస్థానాలపై నా బాణాలను ప్రయోగిస్తాను।

Word by Word

• bahubhiḥ: with many (arrows)
• bahubhiḥ: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; साधनवाचक (instrumental)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• ekam: one (arrow)
• ekam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद (object)

• atyasyan: hurling / shooting
• atyasyan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati + as (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम् (of aham)

• ekena: with one (arrow)
• ekena: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; साधनवाचक

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• bahūn: many
• bahūn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (janān)

• janān: people/men
• janān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• viniyokṣyāmi: I will aim/apply
• viniyokṣyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + ni + yuj (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• bāṇān: arrows
• bāṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• nṛ-vāji-gaja-marmasu: in the vital spots of men, horses and elephants
• nṛ-vāji-gaja-marmasu: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + vāji (प्रातिपदिक) + gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + marma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (genitive relation: ‘of men/horses/elephants’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

Context

Striking each of my foes with many arrows and many with one arrow, I shall aim them at the vitals of men, horses and elephants.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• bāṇa (arrows)
• gaja (elephants)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Skill is presented as a dharmic instrument: mastery in warfare is meant to neutralize threats efficiently, minimizing prolonged chaos and safeguarding rightful order.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa asserts tactical superiority, describing how he can concentrate or distribute arrow-fire to defeat opposing forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Competent courage—valor joined with technical mastery (archery) in the service of duty.