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Shloka 22

Arjuna–Bhīṣma Strategic Engagement and Mutual Arrow-Interdiction (भीष्मार्जुनसमागमः)

नोपशाम्यति निर्घोषो धनुषां कूजतां तथा । विनिश्चेरु: शरा दीप्ता ज्योततीषीव नभस्तलात्‌,वहाँ टंकार करते हुए धनुषोंके शब्द कभी शान्त नहीं होते थे। आकाशसे नक्षत्रोंके समान उन धनुषोंसे चमकीले बाण प्रकट हो रहे थे

nopashāmyati nirghoṣo dhanuṣāṃ kūjatāṃ tathā | viniśceruḥ śarā dīptā jyotitīṣīva nabhastalāt |

Sañjaya nói: Tiếng nổ vang của những cánh cung bật dây không hề lắng xuống. Từ khoảng trời mênh mông, những mũi tên rực cháy lao vút ra, tựa như sao trời chợt lóe—một hình ảnh của đà chiến trận không ngừng và vẻ huy hoàng đáng sợ của sức mạnh binh đao.

not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
उपशाम्यतिsubsides, becomes quiet
उपशाम्यति:
TypeVerb
Rootउप-शम्
FormPresent, Indicative, Parasmaipada, 3, Singular
निर्घोषःroar, loud sound
निर्घोषः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनिर्घोष
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
धनुषाम्of bows
धनुषाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootधनुस्
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
कूजताम्of (the) sounding/twang-ing (ones)
कूजताम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootकूजत्
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
तथाthus, likewise
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
विनिश्चेरुःcame forth, issued out
विनिश्चेरुः:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-निस्-चर्
FormPerfect, Indicative, Parasmaipada, 3, Plural
शराःarrows
शराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
दीप्ताःblazing, shining
दीप्ताः:
TypeAdjective
Rootदीप्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
ज्योतिषीवlike stars/lights
ज्योतिषीव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootज्योतिष् + इव
नभस्तलात्from the surface of the sky
नभस्तलात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootनभस्-तल
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
B
bows (dhanuṣ)
A
arrows (śara)
S
sky/firmament (nabhas)

Educational Q&A

The verse does not preach a doctrine directly; it heightens awareness of war’s unstoppable force—how martial action, once unleashed, becomes a continuous roar. Ethically, it frames the battlefield as a realm where kṣatriya power and duty manifest with awe-inspiring brilliance, while also hinting at the grave, relentless nature of violence.

Sañjaya describes the battle’s intensity: bows keep twanging without pause, and radiant arrows stream forth in such numbers that they resemble stars appearing across the sky.