Shloka 26

कर्णार्जुनयुद्ध-प्रवृत्तिः

Renewal of the Karṇa–Arjuna Engagement at Day’s End

Devanagari script

अज्जोगतिभिरायम्य प्रयत्नाद्‌ धनुरुत्तमम्‌ । नाराचैरहनन्नागान्‌ नकुल: कुलनन्दन:

Transliteration

ajyogatibhir āyamya prayatnād dhanur uttamam | nārācair ahanan nāgān nakulaḥ kulanandanaḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：那俱罗——宗族之欢——以迅捷而准确的身法，奋力挽起上等良弓，用锋利的铁箭射击，击倒群象。此颂彰显战阵之中克制而有纪律的技艺与坚决的用力：武勇并非出于狂怒，而在于受控的行动。

Word by Word

• अज्रोगतिभिः: with swift movements/speeds
• अज्रोगतिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्रोगति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• आयम्य: having stretched/drawn
• Type: Verb
• Root: यम्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• प्रयत्नात्: from/with effort; strenuously
• प्रयत्नात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उत्तमम्: excellent, best
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• नाराचैः: with iron arrows
• नाराचैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाराच
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अहन्: struck, slew
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नागान्: elephants
• नागान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नकुलः: Nakula
• नकुलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कुलनन्दनः: delight of (his) lineage
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलनन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Nakula
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• nārāca arrows
• war-elephants (nāgāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights controlled strength: excellence in action comes from disciplined technique (proper drawing of the bow) joined with deliberate effort (prayatna), even amid the chaos of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Nakula draws his fine bow with force and precision and, using iron arrows, brings down the enemy’s war-elephants—an image of tactical effectiveness and martial competence.