Shloka 25

कथं वा पाण्डवान्‌ युद्धे प्रत्युद्यात: परंतप: । विनिधघ्नन्‌ सोमकान्‌ वीरस्तदाचक्ष्व ममानघ,अनघ! शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले वीरवर भीष्मने युद्धस्थलमें सोमकोंका संहार करते हुए उस समय पाण्डवोंपर किस प्रकार आक्रमण किया? वह सब भी मुझे बताओ

sañjaya uvāca |

kathaṃ vā pāṇḍavān yuddhe pratyudyātaḥ paraṃtapaḥ |

vinihighnan somakān vīras tad ācakṣva mamānagha ||

Sañjaya said: “And how did that hero, the scorcher of foes, advance in battle against the Pāṇḍavas? While he was striking down the Somakas on the field, tell me—O sinless one—how he then launched his assault upon the Pāṇḍavas.”

कथम्how?
कथम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम्
FormAvyaya
वाor/indeed
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
FormAvyaya
पाण्डवान्the Pandavas
पाण्डवान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपाण्डव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
युद्धेin battle
युद्धे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
प्रत्युद्यातःhaving advanced/come forth against
प्रत्युद्यातः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootप्रति-उद्-या
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular; Past passive participle (kta)
परंतपःthe scorcher of foes (hero)
परंतपः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपरंतप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विनिधघ्नन्slaying/destroying
विनिधघ्नन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवि-नि-हन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular; Present active participle (śatṛ)
सोमकान्the Somakas
सोमकान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसोमक
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
वीरःthe hero
वीरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवीर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तत्that (all that)
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आचक्ष्वtell/relate
आचक्ष्व:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-चक्ष्
FormImperative, 2nd person, Singular; Parasmaipada
ममto me/of me
मम:
Sampradana
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormGenitive, Singular
अनघO sinless one
अनघ:
TypeAdjective
Rootअनघ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
P
Pāṇḍavas
S
Somakas

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the epic’s ethical frame for war: actions are viewed through the lens of kṣatriya valor and duty, while the narrator is pressed to give an accountable, detailed report of how violence is directed and against whom.

Sañjaya asks for a precise description of the enemy-scorching hero’s movements: after cutting down the Somakas on the battlefield, in what manner did he then advance to attack the Pāṇḍavas?