Shloka 18

Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)

Devanagari script

शितैरवाकिरद्‌ बाणै: कलिड्डानां वरूथिनीम्‌ । कालिड्रस्तु महेष्वास: पुत्रश्नास्य महारथ:

Transliteration

śitair avākirad bāṇaiḥ kaliḍḍānāṃ varūthinīm | kāliḍras tu maheṣvāsaḥ putraśnāsya mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Với những mũi tên sắc như dao, chàng trút xuống như mưa, phủ lấp và áp đảo trận thế của người Kaliḍḍa. Nhưng Kāliḍra—cung thủ đại tài, bậc đại xa chiến, con của Putraśnā—vẫn đứng vững đón đợt công kích ấy, cho thấy giữa cơn hỗn loạn chiến trường, lòng dũng cảm có kỷ luật và bổn phận kiên định bị thử thách dưới mưa vũ khí.

Word by Word

• शितैः: with sharp
• शितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अवाकिरत्: showered, covered (with missiles)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव√कॄ (किरति)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• कलिङ्गानाम्: of the Kalingas
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलिङ्ग
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वरूथिनीम्: army, host
• वरूथिनीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरूथिनी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• कालिङ्गः: the Kalinga (king/warrior)
• कालिङ्गः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिङ्ग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but, however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• महेष्वासः: great bowman
• महेष्वासः: Karta
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुत्रश्नास्य: Putraśnāsa (name/epithet)
• पुत्रश्नास्य: Karta
• Type: Noun (Proper name/epithet)
• Root: पुत्रश्नास्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महारथः: great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kaliḍḍas (people/warriors)
• Kāliḍra
• Putraśnā
• arrows (bāṇa)
• army/battle-array (varūthinī)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness under pressure: disciplined courage and duty are measured not by ease but by endurance when faced with overwhelming force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a warrior showers the Kaliḍḍa battle-host with sharp arrows, while Kāliḍra—described as a mighty archer and great chariot-warrior, son of Putraśnā—stands as the notable opponent in that exchange.