Shloka 30

Bhīmasena’s Kalinga Engagement and the Approach of Bhīṣma (भीमसेन-कालिङ्ग-संग्रामः)

Devanagari script

नराश्चकायान्‌ निर्भिद्य लौहानि कवचानि च । निपेतुर्विमला: शक्‍्त्यो वीरबाहुभिरपिंता:

Transliteration

narāś ca kāyān nirbhidya lauhāni kavacāni ca | nipetur vimalāḥ śaktyo vīrabāhubhir apintāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Những ngọn lao sáng sạch, do cánh tay lực lưỡng của các dũng sĩ phóng ra, xuyên thủng thân người và bổ toạc cả áo giáp sắt; rồi, sau khi hoàn tất việc của mình, chúng rơi xuống đất. Cảnh ấy cho thấy sự tất định nghiệt ngã của chiến tranh—khi dũng khí và tài nghệ trở thành dụng cụ hủy diệt, và cái giá phải trả nằm cả trong thịt xương lẫn giáp trụ.

Word by Word

• नराः: men, warriors
• नराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• कायान्: bodies
• कायान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• निर्भिद्य: having pierced, splitting through
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्भिद् (नि + भिद्)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• लौहानि: iron (made of iron)
• लौहानि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौह
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• कवचानि: armours, cuirasses
• कवचानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

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

• निपेतुः: fell down
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + पत्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• विमलाः: bright, stainless
• विमलाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• शक्त्यः: spears, javelins
• शक्त्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• वीरबाहुभिः: by the heroes' arms (by strong-armed warriors)
• वीरबाहुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अपिंताः: hurled, cast
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + पि (पिनोति/पिन्वति) / पि (to hurl/impel) → अपित (ppp) + आः
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Feminine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• śakti (spear/javelin weapon)
• kavaca (armor/cuirass)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the harsh reality of war: even heroic strength and shining weapons culminate in bodily harm and death. It implicitly invites reflection on kṣatriya-duty and the ethical weight of violence—valor may be praised, yet its fruits are grievous and irreversible.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes intense fighting in which spears (śaktis) thrown by powerful warriors pierce combatants and break through iron armor; after striking their targets, the weapons fall to the ground.