Mahabharata 7.148.7 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 148, Shloka 7

अध्याय १४८ — कर्णप्रभावः, धृष्टद्युम्नस्य विरथता, तथा घटोत्कच-आह्वानम्

Chapter 148: Karṇa’s Pressure, Dhṛṣṭadyumna Unhorsed, and the Summoning of Ghaṭotkaca

Devanagari script

आकर्णपूर्णनिर्मुक्तिरग्न्यर्काशुनि भै: शरै:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

ākarṇapūrṇanirmuktir agnyarkāśanibhaiḥ śaraiḥ,

pralīnamīnamakaraṃ sāgarāmbha ivābhavat |

Translation

Sañjaya thưa: Tâu Đại vương, những mũi tên Arjuna bắn ra khi kéo cung đến tận tai, dữ dội như lửa, như mặt trời, như sấm. Vì thế quân của bệ hạ hóa như biển cả nơi cá và makara biến mất khỏi tầm mắt: rối loạn, bị nỗi sợ phủ chụp, và vội tìm chỗ ẩn nấp.

Word by Word

• आकर्णपूर्णनिर्मुक्तिः: the release (of arrows) drawn up to the ear (full-draw discharge)
• आकर्णपूर्णनिर्मुक्तिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकर्ण-पूर्ण-निर्मुक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अग्नि-अर्क-अशनि-भैः: like fire, sun, and thunderbolt
• अग्नि-अर्क-अशनि-भैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि/अर्क/अशनि/भ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• प्रलीन-मीन-मकरम्: in which fish and makaras are hidden/merged
• प्रलीन-मीन-मकरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रलीन/मीन/मकर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सागर-अम्भः: ocean-water
• सागर-अम्भः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर/अम्भस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अभवत्: became/was
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• Gāṇḍīva (bow)
• the Kaurava army (implied by 'your army')
• ocean (sāgara)
• fish (mīna)
• crocodile/sea-monster (makara)
• fire (agni)
• sun (arka)
• thunder/thunderbolt (aśani)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how disciplined martial skill and overwhelming force can shatter an opponent’s morale: fear makes even the mighty behave like sea-creatures that disappear when the ocean is violently stirred. It implicitly contrasts steadiness and resolve with panic and loss of composure in dharmic warfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Arjuna releasing arrows at full draw. Their terrifying, blazing, thunder-like impact causes the Kaurava forces to become agitated and frightened, likened to ocean waters in which fish and crocodiles hide when the sea is churned.