Mahabharata — Drona Parva, Shloka 36

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 107: Karṇa–Bhīma Saṃmarda

Arrow-storm Engagement

Devanagari script

तत्रार्जुनो नरव्याप्र: शरैर्मुक्तै: सहस्रशः

Transliteration

tatrārjuno naravyāpraḥ śarair muktaiḥ sahasraśaḥ

Translation

三阇耶说道：在那里，阿周那以英雄之全力奋战，万箭齐发，千矢连绵。战场的道义压力之下，他严整的技艺化作履行职责的器具，显明决心与本领如何被调度去应对战争那冷酷的必然。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

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

• नरव्याप्रः: tiger among men (a mighty man)
• नरव्याप्रः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नरव्याप्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• मुक्तैः: released, shot
• मुक्तैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सहस्रशः: by the thousand; in thousands
• सहस्रशः: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रशस्

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined exertion in the performance of one’s role: Arjuna’s vigorous action is portrayed as purposeful effort in a dharmic context, where skill and resolve are directed toward the demands of a warrior’s duty, even amid the harshness of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Arjuna on the battlefield, intensely engaged and repeatedly discharging volleys of arrows—so many that they are counted ‘by the thousand’—indicating a peak moment of combat and momentum in the fight.