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Shloka 16

प्राग्ज्योतिषे वज्रदत्त-धनंजय-समागमः

Vajradatta Confronts Dhanaṃjaya at Prāgjyotiṣa

केतुवर्मण्यभिहते धृतवर्मा महारथ: । रथेनाशु समुत्पत्य शरैर्जिष्णुमवाकिरत्‌,केतुवर्माके मारे जानेपर महारथी धृतवर्मा रथके द्वारा शीघ्र ही वहाँ आ धमका और अर्जुनपर बाणोंकी वर्षा करने लगा

ketuvarmaṇy abhihate dhṛtavarmā mahārathaḥ | rathenāśu samutpatya śarair jiṣṇum avākirat ||

毗湿摩波耶那说道:计都跋摩既被击倒,大车战士持律跋摩(Dhṛtavarman)便乘战车疾驰而至,以箭雨倾泻于吉什努(阿周那)身上。

केतुवर्मणिwhen/at Ketuvarman
केतुवर्मणि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकेतुवर्मन्
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
अभिहतेhaving been struck/when struck
अभिहते:
Adhikarana
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-हन्
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)
धृतवर्माDhṛtavarman
धृतवर्मा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधृतवर्मन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
महारथःthe great chariot-warrior
महारथः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहारथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
रथेनby/with a chariot
रथेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
आशुquickly
आशु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootआशु
समुत्पत्यhaving sprung up/advanced
समुत्पत्य:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-उत्-√पत्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund)
शरैःwith arrows
शरैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
जिष्णुम्Jishnu (Arjuna)
जिष्णुम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootजिष्णु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अवाकिरत्showered/covered (with arrows)
अवाकिरत्:
TypeVerb
Rootअव-√कॄ (किरति)
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
K
Ketuvarman
D
Dhṛtavarman
J
Jiṣṇu (Arjuna)
C
chariot
A
arrows

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the kṣatriya battlefield ethic: when an ally falls, a warrior may immediately press the engagement to uphold his side’s cause and honor. It reflects the relentless continuity of war, where personal loss quickly turns into renewed combat rather than withdrawal.

After Ketuvarman is struck down, Dhṛtavarman—described as a mahāratha—rushes in on his chariot and unleashes a dense volley of arrows at Arjuna (called Jiṣṇu), escalating the fight in response to Ketuvarman’s fall.