Shloka 346

Daśame’hani Bhīṣma-yuddham — Śikhaṇḍī-rakṣaṇa, Arjuna-prabhāva, Duryodhana-āśraya-vākyam

Devanagari script

फुल्लाशोकनिभ: पार्थ: शुशुभे रणमूर्थनि । हाथियोंके दाँतोंसे अनेक बार विदीर्ण हुए भीमसेन युद्धके मुहानेपर खिले हुए अशोकके समान शोभा पा रहे थे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | phullāśokanibhaḥ pārthaḥ śuśubhe raṇamūrdhani |

Translation

Sanjaya said: Though torn many times by the tusks of elephants, Bhimasena shone at the very mouth of battle like an aśoka tree in full bloom—radiant and steadfast amid the violence of war.

Word by Word

• फुल्ल: blooming
• फुल्ल: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फुल्ल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अशोक-निभः: like an aśoka (tree/flower)
• अशोक-निभः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशोक + निभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पार्थः: Pārtha (Arjuna)
• पार्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शुशुभे: shone; was splendid
• शुशुभे: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• रण-मूर्धनि: on the head/top of the battle; at the forefront of battle
• रण-मूर्धनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण + मूर्धन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• aśoka tree
• battlefield (raṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined valor: even in war, a righteous warrior is to stand firm in svadharma, maintaining inner steadiness and outward excellence without being diminished by fear or chaos.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Arjuna at the forefront of battle, portraying him as radiant and formidable—his presence compared to a fully blossomed aśoka tree, emphasizing his prominence and splendor in the fight.