Shloka 21

Chapter 51: Saṃdhyākāla-saṃhāra

Evening Withdrawal after Arjuna’s Counter-Advance

Devanagari script

ततस्तेषां महास्त्राणि संवार्य शरवृष्टिभि: । ननाद बलवान कार्ष्णिर्भीष्माय विसृजन्‌ शरान्‌

Transliteration

tatas teṣāṁ mahāstrāṇi saṁvārya śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ | nanāda balavān kārṣṇir bhīṣmāya visṛjan śarān ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：随后，强大的迦尔什尼以箭雨遏止了那些可怖的神兵利器；而当他不断向毗湿摩放射箭矢之时，便如雄狮般长啸——在兵刃交击之中宣示无畏的决心。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, plural

• महास्त्राणि: great weapons/missiles
• महास्त्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महास्त्र
• Form: neuter, accusative, plural

• संवार्य: having warded off
• संवार्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + वृ (वृणोति/वृ)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage), having checked/warded off

• शरवृष्टिभिः: with showers of arrows
• शरवृष्टिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरवृष्टि
• Form: feminine, instrumental, plural

• ननाद: roared/sounded
• ननाद: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नद्
• Form: perfect (लिट्), third, singular, parasmaipada

• बलवान्: mighty, powerful
• बलवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• कार्ष्णिः: the Kārṣṇi (descendant of Kṛṣṇa’s line; here: Abhimanyu)
• कार्ष्णिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्ष्णि
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• भीष्माय: to/against Bhīṣma
• भीष्माय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: masculine, dative, singular

• विसृजन्: releasing, discharging
• विसृजन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + सृज्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), masculine, nominative, singular

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• Kārṣṇi (Abhimanyu)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: disciplined courage and steadfastness under pressure—meeting overwhelming force with skill, restraint, and unwavering resolve rather than panic.

What is happening in the narrative?

Abhimanyu (called Kārṣṇi) counters the enemy’s powerful missiles by covering them with a dense rain of arrows, then continues striking at Bhīṣma while roaring loudly, signaling confidence and challenge in the midst of battle.