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Shloka 20

भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः

Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā

नाराचैरर्धनाराचैर्बहुभि: क्षिप्रकारिभि: । वत्सदन्तैश्न बाणैश्ल कर्मारपरिमार्जिति:

nārācair ardhanārācair bahubhiḥ kṣiprakāribhiḥ | vatsadantaiś ca bāṇaiś ca karmāraparimārjitaiḥ ||

Wika ni Sañjaya: “Sa maraming palasong mabilis tumalab—mga nārāca at kalahating-nārāca—at sa mga palasong ‘ngiping-guya’ na pinakinis nang maigi ng panday, itinulak ng mga mandirigma ang labanan pasulong.”

नाराचैःwith iron arrows (nārācas)
नाराचैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootनाराच
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
अर्धनाराचैःwith half-nārāca arrows
अर्धनाराचैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअर्धनाराच
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
बहुभिःwith many
बहुभिः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootबहु
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
क्षिप्रकारिभिःwith swift-acting (quick-working)
क्षिप्रकारिभिः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootक्षिप्रकारिन्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
वत्सदन्तैःwith calf-tooth (vatsadanta) arrows
वत्सदन्तैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवत्सदन्त
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
बाणैःwith arrows
बाणैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootबाण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
कर्मारपरिमार्जितैःwith those polished by a smith (on an anvil/with a file)
कर्मारपरिमार्जितैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootकर्मार-परिमार्जित
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
N
nārāca arrows
A
ardha-nārāca arrows
V
vatsadanta arrows
K
karmāra (smith)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how warfare in the epic is not only about courage but also about preparation and skilled craftsmanship: weapons are described as swift and carefully finished, implying that human effort, training, and material readiness shape outcomes—raising ethical awareness of how refined means can intensify violence.

Sañjaya describes the battle scene by listing types of arrows being hurled in large numbers—nārācas, half-nārācas, and vatsadanta shafts—emphasizing their speed and the fact that they are expertly polished by smiths, conveying the ferocity and technical sophistication of the fighting.