Shloka 50

भीष्मवधोपाय-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into the means to overcome Bhīṣma) | Chapter 103

Devanagari script

तानर्दितान्‌ रणे तेन राक्षसेन दुरात्मना | दृष्टवार्जुनसुत: संख्ये राक्षसं समुपाद्रवत्‌

Transliteration

tān arditān raṇe tena rākṣasena durātmanā | dṛṣṭvā arjunasutaḥ saṅkhye rākṣasaṃ samupādravat ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing those brothers grievously harassed in the battlefield by that wicked Rākṣasa, Arjuna’s son (Abhimanyu) in the thick of combat again rushed forward and assailed the Rākṣasa.

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अर्दितान्: afflicted, tormented
• अर्दितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्दित (√अर्द्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• तेन: by him/that
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• राक्षसेन: by the demon (rakshasa)
• राक्षसेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• दुरात्मना: by the wicked-souled (one)
• दुरात्मना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृष्ट्वा (√दृश्)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• अर्जुनसुतः: Arjuna's son (Abhimanyu)
• अर्जुनसुतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन-सुत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संख्ये: in the battle, in combat
• संख्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संख्या
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• राक्षसम्: the demon
• राक्षसम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समुपाद्रवत्: rushed upon, attacked
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उप-आ-√द्रु
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• Abhimanyu
• Rākṣasa (demonic warrior)
• the five brothers (pañca bhrātaraḥ; implied by the Hindi gloss)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in action: when one witnesses allies being unjustly oppressed, one should respond with courage and protective resolve, restraining cruelty even within the harsh realities of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Abhimanyu, seeing the (five) brothers severely harried by a wicked Rākṣasa on the battlefield, charges again and attacks that Rākṣasa in the midst of combat.