Shloka 22

Śalya-parva Adhyāya 26 — Duryodhana’s remnant formation and rapid engagements

Devanagari script

विक्षिपन्‌ सुमहच्चापं कार्तस्वरविभूषितम्‌ । विसृजन्‌ सायकांश्वैव विषाग्निप्रतिमान्‌ बहून्‌ू

Transliteration

vikṣipan sumahaccāpaṃ kārtasvaravibhūṣitam | visṛjan sāyakāṃś caiva viṣāgnipratimān bahūn ||

Translation

سنجے نے کہا—وہ سونے سے آراستہ اپنے عظیم کمان کو جھٹک جھٹک کر کھینچتا اور زہر و آگ کی مانند ہولناک بے شمار تیروں کی بوچھاڑ چھوڑتا رہا۔

Word by Word

• विक्षिपन्: drawing/brandishing (lit. casting about; here: pulling/handling)
• विक्षिपन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-क्षिप्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुमहत्: very great
• सुमहत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-महत्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• चापम्: bow
• चापम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाप
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कार्तस्वर-विभूषितम्: adorned with gold
• कार्तस्वर-विभूषितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्तस्वर-विभूषित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विसृजन्: releasing, discharging
• विसृजन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-सृज्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सायकान्: arrows
• सायकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• विष-अग्नि-प्रतिमान्: like poison and fire
• विष-अग्नि-प्रतिमान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष-अग्नि-प्रतिम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• बहून्: many
• बहून्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• bow (cāpa)
• gold ornaments (kārtasvara-vibhūṣaṇa)
• arrows (sāyaka)
• poison (viṣa)
• fire (agni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the terrifying potency of weaponry and skill when unrestrained in war; it implicitly contrasts sheer power with the ethical need for restraint (dama) and right intention, reminding that prowess without dharmic control becomes destructive.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a warrior in the thick of battle drawing a massive, gold-adorned bow and releasing many arrows in rapid volleys, likened to poison and fire for their lethal, consuming effect.