Mahabharata 6.116.20 — Bhishma Parva, Adhyaya 116, Shloka 20

भीष्मस्य जलप्रार्थना — अर्जुनस्य पर्जन्यास्त्रप्रयोगः — दुर्योधनं प्रति सन्ध्युपदेशः

Bhīṣma’s request for water; Arjuna’s Parjanya-astra; counsel to Duryodhana on reconciliation

Devanagari script

तदा न ममृषे शल्यो भीमसेनस्य विक्रमम्‌,उस समय राजा शल्य भीमसेनके उस पराक्रमको न सह सके। उन्होंने लोहारके माँजे हुए पैने बाणोंका संधान करके समरभूमिमें भीमसेनको बींध डाला और कहा--'खड़ा रह, खड़ा रह”

Transliteration

tadā na mamṛṣe śalyo bhīmasenasya vikramam | lohakāra-mañjita-tīkṣṇa-bāṇān sandhāya samara-bhūmau bhīmasenaṃ vivyādha, uvāca ca—“tiṣṭha tiṣṭha” ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then King Śalya could no longer endure Bhīmasena’s surging prowess. Fixing his aim with razor-sharp arrows honed like a smith’s work, he pierced Bhīma on the battlefield and cried out, “Stand! Stand!”

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• ममृषे: endured / bore
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृष्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Ātmanepada, 3, singular

• शल्यः: Śalya
• शल्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• भीमसेनस्य: of Bhīmasena
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• विक्रमम्: valor / prowess
• विक्रमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रम
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śalya
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• bāṇa (arrows)
• samara-bhūmi (battlefield)
• lohakāra (smith)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata ethic: unchecked pride and intolerance of another’s excellence can fuel escalation. Even when valor is admired, rivalry may convert it into hostility, reminding readers that inner restraint is as crucial as martial skill.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Śalya, unable to bear Bhīma’s battlefield prowess, aims sharpened arrows and pierces Bhīma, then challenges him with the command “tiṣṭha tiṣṭha” (“Stand your ground!”).