Shloka 36

Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter

Devanagari script

अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य छित्त्वा सर्वायुधानि च । प्राप्तमप्यहितं द्रौणिन जघान रणेप्सया,इस प्रकार अस्त्रोंद्वारा पाण्ड्यके अस्त्रोंका निवारण करके अभश्व॒त्थामाने उनके सारे आयुध काट डाले, तथापि युद्धकी अभिलाषासे उसने अपने वशमें आये हुए शत्रुका भी वध नहीं किया

Transliteration

astrair astrāṇi saṃvārya chittvā sarvāyudhāni ca | prāptam apy ahitaṃ drauṇiṃ na jaghāna raṇepsayā ||

Translation

三阇耶说：他以兵刃制兵刃，尽数格挡，又斩断对方一切武器；然而即便敌人已落入掌中，他仍未杀死德罗那之子阿湿婆他摩。纵然战意翻涌，他也克制自己，不去屠戮一个已被制服的对手。

Word by Word

अस्त्रैःby weapons (missiles)

अस्त्राणिweapons (missiles)

संवार्यhaving warded off

छित्त्वाhaving cut

सर्वall

आयुधानिweapons (arms)

चand

प्राप्तम्attained / come within reach

अपिeven / although

अहितम्enemy (one who is not well-disposed)

द्रौणिम्Drauni (Aśvatthāman, son of Droṇa)

नnot

जघानslew / struck down

रणेin battle

ईप्सयाby desire / with the wish

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Drauṇi (Aśvatthāman)

weapons (astra, āyudha)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights restraint in warfare: even when an enemy is disarmed and within one’s power, dharmic conduct may require refraining from killing, separating legitimate combat from needless slaughter.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the battle account narrated by Sañjaya, the warrior counters Aśvatthāman’s missiles with his own, cuts down all of Aśvatthāman’s weapons, yet does not kill him despite having the advantage.