Shloka 16

Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance

Devanagari script

ते तस्य विविशुस्तूर्ण काय॑ निर्भिद्य मर्मसु । स तैविभिजन्नसर्वाड्र: शुशुभे राक्षसोत्तम:

Transliteration

te tasya viviśus tūrṇaṃ kāyaṃ nirbhidya marmasu | sa tair vibhinnasarvāṅgaḥ śuśubhe rākṣasottamaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Jene Geschosse drangen rasch in seinen Leib ein und durchbohrten seine Lebenspunkte. Obgleich seine Glieder zerrissen und durchlöchert waren, erschien der vornehmste der Rākṣasas noch immer strahlend, ungebrochen an Tapferkeit.

Word by Word

तेthey

तस्यof him

विविशुःentered / penetrated

तूर्णम्swiftly

कायम्body

निर्भिद्यhaving pierced / splitting open

मर्मसुin the vital spots / joints

सःhe

तैःby them / with those (arrows)

विभिन्नःsplit / pierced

असर्वाङ्गःwhose whole body (was) not intact / with all limbs (everywhere) wounded

शुशुभेshone / appeared splendid

राक्षस-उत्तमःthe best of the Rakshasas

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

स

संजय (Sañjaya)

र

राक्षसोत्तम (a foremost Rākṣasa; unnamed here)

म

मर्म (vital points)

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 the kṣatriya battlefield ethic of steadfastness: even when struck in vital points and grievously wounded, a true warrior is portrayed as maintaining courage and presence. It also underscores the Mahābhārata’s sober realism—valor and suffering coexist, and outward splendor can persist amid mortal injury.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a fierce moment in combat: missiles (likely arrows) rapidly pierce a leading Rākṣasa’s body, striking vital points. Despite being riddled across his limbs, he is depicted as still shining—suggesting continued ferocity or an awe-inspiring appearance even while wounded.