Shloka 45
भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः
Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed
Devanagari script
सौमदत्तिरथो भीममाजघान स्तनान्तरे
Transliteration
saumadattiratho bhīmam ājaghāna stanāntare
Translation
Sañjaya said: The chariot-warrior, son of Somadatta, struck Bhīma (Bhīmasena) in the region of the chest.
Word by Word
सौमदत्तिःSomadatta's son (Bhūriśravas)
सौमदत्तिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसौमदत्ति
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
रथःchariot
रथः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भीमम्Bhīma
भीमम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभीम
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
आजघानstruck, smote
आजघान:
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular
स्तन-अन्तरेin the space between the breasts (on the chest)
स्तन-अन्तरे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootस्तन + अन्तर
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaS
Saumadatti (Bhūriśravas)B
BhīmaCharacter 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
The verse highlights the uncompromising reality of kṣatriya-dharma in war: duty is enacted amid physical danger and suffering, and steadfastness is tested through direct confrontation rather than abstract ideals.
Sañjaya reports a specific blow in battle: Saumadatti (Bhūriśravas), fighting from his chariot, strikes Bhīma on the chest, marking an intense exchange among leading warriors on the Kurukṣetra field.