Shloka 11

Abhimanyunidhana-prakāśaḥ — Vasudeva–Kṛṣṇa–Subhadrā–Kuntī śoka-saṃvāda

Disclosure and Consolation

Devanagari script

ततः शिखण्डी गाड़ेयं युध्यमानं महाहवे । जघान बहुभिर्बाणै: सह गाण्डीवधन्चना,फिर दसवें दिन शिखण्डीने महासमरमें जूझते हुए गंगानन्दन भीष्मको गाण्डीवधारी अर्जुनकी सहायतासे बहुसंख्यक बाणोंद्वारा बहुत घायल कर दिया

Transliteration

tataḥ śikhaṇḍī gāṅgeyaṁ yudhyamānaṁ mahāhave | jaghāna bahubhir bāṇaiḥ saha gāṇḍīvadhanvanā ||

Translation

Then Śikhaṇḍī, in the midst of that great battle, struck the Gāṅgeya (Bhīṣma) as he fought on, piercing him with many arrows—acting together with Arjuna, the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva. The scene underscores how strategy and circumstance in war can override personal valor: Bhīṣma’s formidable prowess is checked through alliance, tactical positioning, and the constraints of his own vows and choices.

Word by Word

ततःthen/thereafter

शिखण्डीShikhaṇḍī

गाङ्गेयम्Gāṅgeya (Bhīṣma, son of Gaṅgā)

युध्यमानम्fighting

महाहवेin the great battle

जघानstruck/slew

बहुभिःwith many

बाणैःarrows

सहtogether with

गाण्डीवधन्वनाwith the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva bow (Arjuna)

Speaker

वासुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāsudeva (speaker)

Śikhaṇḍī

Gāṅgeya (Bhīṣma)

Arjuna (Gāṇḍīvadhanvan)

Gāṇḍīva (bow)

Gaṅgā (implied by 'Gāṅgeya')

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a dharmic war, outcomes often hinge on alliances, strategy, and the moral-psychological constraints created by one’s vows and past choices; sheer strength alone does not determine victory.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śikhaṇḍī, alongside Arjuna wielding the Gāṇḍīva, showers Bhīṣma (the son of Gaṅgā) with many arrows during the great battle, severely wounding him.