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Shloka 31

भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति उपालम्भः

Bhīṣma’s Reproof to Duryodhana

संदश्य दशनैरोष्ठं सक्किणी परिसंलिहन्‌ । शरवर्षेण महता दुर्योधनमवाकिरत्‌ । पर्वतं वारिधाराभि: प्रावषीव बलाहक:ः

saṃdaśya daśanair oṣṭhaṃ sakkiṇī parisaṃlihan | śaravarṣeṇa mahatā duryodhanam avākirat | parvataṃ vāridhārābhiḥ prāvṛṣīva balāhakaḥ ||

Sañjaya sprach: „Die Lippe zwischen den Zähnen, die Mundwinkel mit der Zunge leckend, in grimmiger Entschlossenheit, spannte er seinen großen Bogen und überschüttete Duryodhana mit einem mächtigen Pfeilregen—wie eine Monsunwolke, die Wasserströme auf einen Berggipfel gießt. Das Bild zeigt, wie Zorn und kriegerische Kunst, einmal entfesselt, mit der Unausweichlichkeit und Wucht der Jahresregen herabstürzen und den moralischen Druck der Schlacht verschärfen.“

संदश्यhaving bitten/pressing (with the teeth)
संदश्य:
TypeVerb
Rootसंदश् (दंश्)
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि
दशनैःwith (his) teeth
दशनैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootदशन
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
ओष्ठम्the lip
ओष्ठम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootओष्ठ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
सक्किणीthe two corners of the mouth
सक्किणी:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसक्किणी
FormFeminine, Accusative, Dual
परिसंलिहन्licking all around
परिसंलिहन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootपरि-सम्-लिह्
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
शरवर्षेणwith a shower of arrows
शरवर्षेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशर-वर्ष
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
महताgreat, massive
महता:
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
दुर्योधनम्Duryodhana
दुर्योधनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदुर्योधन
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अवाकिरत्showered, covered (him) down
अवाकिरत्:
TypeVerb
Rootअव-किॄ (किर्)
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
पर्वतम्a mountain
पर्वतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपर्वत
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
वारिधाराभिःwith streams of water
वारिधाराभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवारि-धारा
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural
प्रावृषिin the rainy season
प्रावृषि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootप्रावृष्
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
इवlike, as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
बलाहकःa cloud
बलाहकः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootबलाहक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Duryodhana
G
great bow (mahaddhanuḥ implied by context)
A
arrows (śara)
C
cloud (balāhaka)
M
mountain (parvata)
M
monsoon/rainy season (prāvṛṣ)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how inner states—especially anger and aggressive resolve—manifest outwardly in action. The monsoon-cloud simile suggests an overwhelming, almost natural-force quality to violence once it is set in motion, reminding the reader that ethical restraint is crucial because unleashed fury can become indiscriminate and unstoppable.

Sañjaya describes a warrior (contextually the Hidimba’s son, Ghaṭotkaca) showing fierce determination—biting his lip and licking the corners of his mouth—then drawing his great bow and inundating Duryodhana with a heavy volley of arrows, compared to a rain cloud drenching a mountain with torrents.