Shloka 33

Bhīṣma’s Fall, the Arrow-bed (śara-talpa), and the Establishment of Guard

Devanagari script

एष संदृश्यते पार्थो वासुदेवव्यपाश्रय: । दारयन्‌ सर्वसैन्यानि धार्तराष्ट्राणि सर्वश:

Transliteration

eṣa saṃdṛśyate pārtho vāsudevavyapāśrayaḥ | dārayan sarvasainyāni dhārtarāṣṭrāṇi sarvaśaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Behold—there appears Pārtha (Arjuna), taking refuge in Vāsudeva. He is rending the entire forces of the Dhārtarāṣṭras on every side, and is seen advancing this way.”

Word by Word

• एषः: this (man)
• एषः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संदृश्यते: is seen/appears
• संदृश्यते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Lat, Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Passive

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

• वासुदेव-व्यपाश्रयः: having Vāsudeva as refuge
• वासुदेव-व्यपाश्रयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वासुदेवव्यपाश्रय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दारयन्: tearing/rending
• दारयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृ
• Form: Shatr (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्व-सैन्यानि: all armies
• सर्व-सैन्यानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वसैन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• धार्तराष्ट्राणि: of the Dhārtarāṣṭras (Kauravas)
• धार्तराष्ट्राणि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्तराष्ट्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• सर्वशः: on all sides/entirely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशस्
• Form: Adverb

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna (Pārtha)
• Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
• Dhārtarāṣṭras (Kaurava forces)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical-spiritual motif that true strength in a righteous cause is grounded in taking refuge in divine guidance (Vāsudeva). Arjuna’s effectiveness is presented not merely as personal prowess but as power aligned with higher counsel and dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna, supported by and reliant upon Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva), is visibly advancing while breaking through Kaurava formations, tearing apart their forces from all directions.