Shloka 14

Arjuna–Bhīṣma Strategic Engagement and Mutual Arrow-Interdiction (भीष्मार्जुनसमागमः)

Devanagari script

तमायान्तं महेष्वासं सोदर्या: पर्यवारयन्‌ । छादयन्त: शरव्रातैरमेंघा इव दिवाकरम्‌

Transliteration

tam āyāntaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ sodaryāḥ paryavārayan | chādayantaḥ śaravrātair ameghā iva divākaram ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Als der mächtige Bogenschütze Bhīmasena heranrückte, umringten ihn Duryodhanas Brüder und andere Krieger von allen Seiten und bedeckten ihn mit Pfeilsalven—wie Wolken die Sonne verhüllen.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आयान्तम्: coming/approaching
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-या (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महेष्वासम्: great archer
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सोदर्याः: of (his) brothers / of the uterine (brothers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोदर्य
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• पर्यवारयन्: surrounded/encircled
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-आ-वृ (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• छादयन्तः: covering
• छादयन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: छाद् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शरव्रातैः: with volleys/masses of arrows
• शरव्रातैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरव्रात
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अमेघाः: clouds
• अमेघाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• दिवाकरम्: the sun
• दिवाकरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवाकर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Duryodhana’s brothers (Kauravas)
• arrows (śara)
• sun (divākara)
• clouds (megha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the intensity and moral pressure of battlefield duty: a powerful warrior may face coordinated opposition, yet must stand firm in courage and resolve. It also illustrates how war magnifies both valor and hostility, testing one’s steadiness under overwhelming force.

What is happening in the narrative?

As Bhīma advances, Duryodhana’s brothers and allied fighters encircle him and shower him with dense arrow volleys, compared to clouds obscuring the sun.