Shloka 42

Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 58 — Arjuna’s Arrow-Storm and Relief of Bhīmasena

Devanagari script

द्रौणिस्तदपि राजेन्द्र भल्लै: क्षिप्रं महारथ:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

drauṇis tad api rājendra bhallaiḥ kṣipraṁ mahārathaḥ |

rājendra śīghratāpūrvaka-hasta-cālanavān sudṛḍhāyudha-dhārī vīra-mahārathī aśvatthāmā samara-aṅgaṇe anekaiḥ bhallaiḥ rathād avarohituṁ pūrvam eva dhṛṣṭadyumnasya tāṁ ḍhāla-tālavāraṁ api ciccheda |

etad adbhutam iva abhavat ||

Translation

桑阇耶说：大王啊，即便如此，那位行动迅捷、执兵坚决的伟大车战勇士阿湿婆他摩，在战场上以多支锐利之箭，竟在德利什塔丢摩那尚未下车之前，就斩断了他的盾与剑；此举实在令人惊异。

Word by Word

• द्रौणिः: Drona's son (Ashvatthaman)
• द्रौणिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• भल्लैः: with sharp arrows (bhallas)
• भल्लैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भल्ल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षिप्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• महारथः: the great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhritarashtra
• Ashvatthama (Drauni)
• Dhrishtadyumna
• battlefield
• chariot
• broad-headed arrows (bhalla)
• shield
• sword

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how extraordinary skill and speed in war can abruptly overturn an opponent’s readiness; it also underscores the grim momentum of battle, where prowess intensifies violence and drives the conflict toward harsher consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Ashvatthama, using many broad-headed arrows, swiftly severs Dhrishtadyumna’s shield and sword before Dhrishtadyumna can even get down from his chariot—an act described as astonishing.