Shloka 22

Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 58 — Arjuna’s Arrow-Storm and Relief of Bhīmasena

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा सुभृशं वीरं शीघ्रकृन्निशितै: शरै: । पार्षत॑ छादयामास घोररूपै: सुतेजनै:

Transliteration

ity uktvā subhṛśaṃ vīraṃ śīghrakṛn niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | pārṣataḥ chādayāmāsa ghorarūpaiḥ sutejanaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya thưa: Nói xong, hắn lập tức trút xuống vị dũng sĩ ấy một trận mưa tên sắc bén, phủ kín con của Pṛṣata bằng những mũi tên rực cháy, ghê rợn—một hình ảnh của ý chí chiến trận không lùi bước, nơi lời nói vừa dứt đã hóa thành hành động trên chiến địa.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• उक्त्वा: having said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage)

• सुभृशम्: exceedingly, very much
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सुभृश

• वीरम्: the hero/warrior
• वीरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• शीघ्रकृत्: the swift-doer (name/epithet)
• शीघ्रकृत्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीघ्रकृत्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• निशितैः: with sharp
• निशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, plural

• शरैः: arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• पार्षतः: the son of Pṛṣat (Drupada)/Pārṣata
• पार्षतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्षत
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• छादयामास: covered, showered (covered over)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छद्
• Form: लिट् (perfect), third, singular, parasmaipada

• घोररूपैः: with terrible-formed (dreadful-looking)
• घोररूपैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोररूप
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, plural

• सुतेजनैः: with very-brilliant (highly radiant)
• सुतेजनैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुतेजस्
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pārṣata (Dhṛṣṭadyumna, son of Drupada/Pṛṣata)
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of decisive action: words are immediately followed by swift execution in battle. Ethically, it underscores how martial duty in the epic often manifests as relentless, skillful violence directed toward an opponent, emphasizing resolve and capability rather than hesitation.

What is happening in the narrative?

After speaking, the attacker rapidly releases a dense volley of sharp arrows, overwhelming and ‘covering’ Pārṣata (Dhṛṣṭadyumna) with dreadful, blazing shafts—depicting an intense exchange in the Karṇa Parva battle sequence.