Shloka 25

Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter

Devanagari script

दिव्यं धनुरथाधिज्यं कृत्वा द्रौणिरमित्रहा । प्रेक्ष्य चाशु रथे युक्तान्‌ नरैरन्यान्‌ हयोत्तमान्‌

Transliteration

divyaṁ dhanur athādhijyaṁ kṛtvā drauṇir amitrahā | prekṣya cāśu rathe yuktān narair anyān hayottamān |

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Bấy giờ Drauṇi (Aśvatthāman), kẻ diệt thù, đã giương lại cây cung thần của mình; và thấy các gia nhân đã mau chóng thắng vào chiến xa những con ngựa thượng hạng khác, liền bắn ra một trận mưa tên hàng nghìn mũi, làm đầy trời và khắp bốn phương bằng tên của ông.

Word by Word

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अधिज्यम्: strung (with a bowstring)
• अधिज्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिज्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having made / having done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active

• द्रौणिः: Drauni (Ashvatthaman, son of Drona)
• द्रौणिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अमित्रहा: slayer of foes
• अमित्रहा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्रहन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रेक्ष्य: having looked at / seeing
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-ईक्ष्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Active

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

• आशु: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु

• रथे: in/on the chariot
• रथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• युक्तान्: yoked / harnessed
• युक्तान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle used adjectivally), Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नरैः: by men
• नरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अन्यान्: other
• अन्यान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• हयोत्तमान्: excellent horses
• हयोत्तमान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हयोत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Drauṇi (Aśvatthāmā)
• Droṇa
• divine bow (dhanus)
• chariot (ratha)
• horses (haya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how swiftly prepared resources and heightened resolve can unleash overwhelming force in war; ethically, it underscores the Mahābhārata’s recurring warning that martial excellence, when driven by anger and rivalry, accelerates destruction and deepens the chain of consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāmā (Drauṇi) strings his divine bow, notices that fresh excellent horses have been quickly harnessed to his chariot by attendants, and then releases a massive volley of arrows that seems to fill the sky and all directions.