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Shloka 27

कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation

Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows

तदनन्तर अभश्व॒त्थामाने अपने बाणोंद्वारा अर्जुनकी उस बाण-वर्षाका निवारण करके अपना नाम प्रकाशित करते हुए सहसा सौ बाणोंसे श्रीकृष्णको घायल कर दिया और अर्जुनपर भी तीन सौ बाणोंका प्रहार किया ।। ततोडर्जुन: सायकानां शतेन गुरो: सुतं मर्मसु निर्बिभेद । अश्वांश्व सूतं॑ च तथा धनुर्ज्या- मवाकिरतू्‌ पश्यतां तावकानाम्‌,इसके बाद अर्जुनने सौ बाणोंसे गुरुपुत्रके मर्मस्थानोंको विदीर्ण कर दिया तथा आपके पुत्रोंके देखते-देखते उसके घोड़ों, सारथि, धनुष और प्रत्यंचापर बाणोंकी झड़ी लगा दी

tad anantaraṁ hy aśvatthāmā nija-bāṇair arjunasya tāṁ bāṇa-vṛṣṭiṁ nivārya nāma prakāśayan sahasā śata-bāṇaiḥ śrī-kṛṣṇaṁ vyathayām āsa, arjune ca trīṇi śatāni bāṇān prāhiṇot. tato ’rjunaḥ sāyakānāṁ śatena guroḥ sutaṁ marmasu nirbibheda; aśvān sūtaṁ ca tathā dhanuḥ-jyām avākirat paśyatāṁ tāvakānām.

三阇耶说道:其后,阿湿婆他摩以己箭遏止阿周那的箭雨,并高声宣名以显其勇,忽然以百矢伤奎师那,又以三百矢攒射阿周那。随即阿周那以百支利箭刺穿师子(导师之子)诸要害;并在你方将士眼前,以密集箭雨覆盖阿湿婆他摩的战马、御者、弓与弓弦,使其战车之力顿失。

ततःthen/thereupon
ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
अर्जुनःArjuna
अर्जुनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअर्जुन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सायकानाम्of arrows
सायकानाम्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसायक
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
शतेनwith a hundred
शतेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशत
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
गुरोःof the teacher
गुरोः:
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
सुतम्son
सुतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसुत
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
मर्मसुin the vital spots
मर्मसु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमर्मन्
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural
निर्बिभेदpierced/split
निर्बिभेद:
TypeVerb
Rootभिद्
FormPerfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
अश्वान्horses
अश्वान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअश्व
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
सूतम्charioteer
सूतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसूत
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
तथाlikewise
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
धनुःbow
धनुः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधनुस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
ज्याम्bowstring
ज्याम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootज्या
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
अवाकिरत्showered/covered (with arrows)
अवाकिरत्:
TypeVerb
Rootअव-किॄ
FormImperfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
पश्यताम्while (they) were watching
पश्यताम्:
TypeVerb
Rootपश्
FormPresent active participle, Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
तावकानाम्of your (side’s men)
तावकानाम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootतावक
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
A
Aśvatthāmā
A
Arjuna
Ś
Śrī Kṛṣṇa
D
Droṇa (implied by 'guroḥ sutaḥ')
H
horses
C
charioteer (sūta)
B
bow (dhanuḥ)
B
bowstring (jyā)
A
arrows (bāṇa/sāyaka)

Educational Q&A

Even amid total war, the verse contrasts motives and methods: Aśvatthāmā fights to ‘make his name known’ (nāma prakāśayan), while Arjuna’s response is precise and tactical—striking vital points and disabling the chariot’s instruments (horses, charioteer, bow, bowstring). It highlights how intention (fame-seeking vs. duty-bound effectiveness) and disciplined skill shape the ethical texture of action.

Aśvatthāmā counters Arjuna’s arrow-shower, then suddenly wounds Kṛṣṇa with a hundred arrows and strikes Arjuna with three hundred. Arjuna retaliates by piercing Aśvatthāmā in vital spots and then overwhelms his chariot-team and equipment—horses, charioteer, bow, and bowstring—before the Kaurava forces watching.