Shloka 2

Devanagari script

शतघध्नीभि: सुघोराभि: परिघैश्न परश्वथैः । मुदगरैर्मुसलै: प्रासै: क्षेपणीयैश्व॒ सर्वश:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

śataghadhnībhiḥ sughorābhiḥ parighaiś ca paraśvathaiḥ |

mudagarair musalaiḥ prāsaiḥ kṣepaṇīyaiś ca sarvaśaḥ |

atāḍayan raṇe bhīṣmaṃ sahitāḥ sarvasṛñjayāḥ |

Translation

Sanjaya sprach: Dann, im dichtesten Getümmel der Schlacht, fielen die versammelten Sṛñjayas Bhishma von allen Seiten an—sie schlugen auf ihn ein mit schrecklichen Śataghni-Geschossen, mit Eisenkeulen und -stangen, mit Äxten, Hämmern, Stößeln, Speeren und allerlei Wurfwaffen.

Word by Word

• शतघध्नीभिः: with sataghnis (stone/bolt-throwers)
• शतघध्नीभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतघध्नी
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• सुघोराभिः: very terrible
• सुघोराभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुघोरा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• परिघैः: with iron bars/clubs
• परिघैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिघ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• परश्वथैः: with axes/hatchets
• परश्वथैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: परश्वथ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• मुदगरैः: with mallets/hammers
• मुदगरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुदगर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• मुसलैः: with pestles/clubs
• मुसलैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुसल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• प्रासैः: with spears
• प्रासैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रास
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• क्षेपणीयैः: with throwable missiles
• क्षेपणीयैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षेपणीय
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सर्वशः: on all sides / in every way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः

• अताडयन्: they struck / beat
• Type: Verb
• Root: ताड्
• Form: Imperfect, 3, Plural, Parasmaipada

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• भीष्मम्: Bhishma
• भीष्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सहिताः: united / together
• सहिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वसृञ्जयाः: all the Sṛñjayas (the whole Sṛñjaya host)
• सर्वसृञ्जयाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वसृञ्जय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• Sṛñjayas
• śataghni (weapon)
• parigha (weapon)
• paraśu/paraśvatha (axe)
• mudagara (hammer)
• musala (pestle/club)
• prāsa (spear)
• kṣepaṇīya (projectile weapons)
• raṇa (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the harsh reality of kṣatriya-dharma in war: once battle is joined, even a revered elder like Bhīṣma is treated as an opposing force to be neutralized. It invites reflection on how duty and allegiance can intensify violence, and how endurance and discipline are tested amid collective aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the Sṛñjaya warriors, acting together, surround and strike Bhīṣma with many kinds of heavy and thrown weapons—clubs, axes, hammers, spears, and fearsome missiles—pressing him from all directions on the battlefield.