Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 18

Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange

Chapter 55

Devanagari script

शयव्रातै: सुतीक्ष्णाग्रै: समादिष्टै: खगैरिव । अर्जुनस्तु खमावत्रे लोहितप्राशनै: खगै:

Transliteration

śayavrātaiḥ sutīkṣṇāgraiḥ samādiṣṭaiḥ khagair iva | arjunas tu kham āvṛtya lohitaprāśanaiḥ khagaiḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Với những loạt tên—đầu nhọn như lưỡi dao và được phóng đi theo đội ngũ—Arjuna phủ kín bầu trời như thể trời đầy chim; những mũi tên ấy tựa loài chim bay trên không uống máu, làm tối sầm cả khoảng không phía trên.

Word by Word

• शयव्रातैः: by masses of arrows
• शयव्रातैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर-व्रात
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सुतीक्ष्णाग्रैः: with very sharp points
• सुतीक्ष्णाग्रैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-तीक्ष्ण-अग्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• समादिष्टैः: directed/aimed (sent forth)
• समादिष्टैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-√दिश्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural, क्त (past passive participle)

• खगैः: by birds
• खगैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

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

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• खम्: the sky
• खम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आवृत्य: having covered
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√वृ
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund)

• लोहितप्राशनैः: with blood-drinking (ones)
• लोहितप्राशनैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहित-प्राशन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• खगैः: by birds
• खगैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Sky (kha)
• Arrows (śaya/śarāḥ implied)
• Birds (khaga, metaphor)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined, well-aimed strength: power guided by control and purpose. In a dharmic frame, martial excellence is not mere aggression but a regulated capacity to restrain and overcome threats through skill and order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna releases dense, sharply pointed volleys of arrows that fill and ‘cover’ the sky. The poet compares the arrows to sky-flying birds, even ‘blood-drinking’ ones, emphasizing the intensity and lethal effectiveness of his archery in battle.