Mahabharata 7.106.5 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 106, Shloka 5

भीमसेन–कर्णयुद्धवर्णनम्

Description of the Bhīmasena–Karṇa Engagement

Devanagari script

ते पिबन्त इवाकाशमणश्लैरष्टी महारथा: । व्यराजयन्‌ दश दिशो वैयाप्रैहेंमचन्द्रकै:

Transliteration

te pibanta ivākāśam aṇuślāir aṣṭau mahārathāḥ | vyarājayan daśa diśo vaiyāprāiḥ hema-candrakaiḥ || bhūriśravāḥ śalaḥ karṇaḥ vṛṣasenaḥ jayadrathaḥ | kṛpācāryaḥ madrarājaḥ śalya tathā rathīnāṃ śreṣṭha aśvatthāmā ||

Translation

มหารถีทั้งแปดนั้นดูประหนึ่งดื่มกินท้องฟ้าด้วยฝุ่นที่ฟุ้งจากความเร็ว; คลุมด้วยหนังเสือและประดับตราพระจันทร์ทองคำ จึงทำให้ทั้งสิบทิศสว่างไสวด้วยสง่าราศี

Word by Word

• ते: they (those)
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पिबन्ति: drink
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (पिबति)
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• इव: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• आकाशम्: the sky
• आकाशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अणश्लैः: with swift (horses/steeds)
• अणश्लैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अणश्ल (अणु-अश्ल/अणश्ल)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Karta
• Type: Numeral
• Root: अष्टन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महारथाः: great chariot-warriors
• महारथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विराजयन्: making splendid / adorning
• Type: Verb
• Root: राज् (वि + राज्)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• दश: ten
• Type: Numeral
• Root: दशन्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• दिशः: directions
• दिशः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• व्याघ्रचर्महेमचन्द्रकैः: with golden moon-emblems on tiger-skins (i.e., tiger-skin coverings bearing golden moon-marks)
• व्याघ्रचर्महेमचन्द्रकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: व्याघ्रचर्म-हेमचन्द्रक
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhūriśravā
• Śala
• Karṇa
• Vṛṣasena
• Jayadratha
• Kṛpācārya
• Śalya (Madrarāja)
• Aśvatthāmā
• ākāśa (sky)
• daśa diśaḥ (ten directions)
• hema-candra (golden moon emblems)
• armour/protective coverings (vaiyāprā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how war can appear glorious—elite warriors, shining insignia, and sweeping momentum—yet this splendour is ethically ambiguous. It invites reflection on how external brilliance and reputation can mask the grave human cost and moral peril inherent in violent conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a formation of eight renowned Kaurava-aligned chariot-warriors advancing with such speed that dust seems to ‘drink the sky.’ Their armour and golden moon insignia make the battlefield’s directions appear illuminated, emphasizing their collective presence and impending impact in the battle.