Mahabharata 6.116.31 — Bhishma Parva, Adhyaya 116, Shloka 31

भीष्मस्य जलप्रार्थना — अर्जुनस्य पर्जन्यास्त्रप्रयोगः — दुर्योधनं प्रति सन्ध्युपदेशः

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

Devanagari script

कृपं च नवभिर्बाणैर्भृशं विद्ध्वा समन्तत: । प्राग्ज्योतिषं शतैराजी राजन्‌ विव्याध सायकै:

Transliteration

kṛpaṃ ca navabhir bāṇair bhṛśaṃ viddhvā samantataḥ | prāgjyotiṣaṃ śatair ājau rājan vivyādha sāyakaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: O King, Bhīmasena, inflamed with wrath, grievously pierced Kṛpa on all sides with nine arrows; then, in the very press of battle, he smote the lord of Prāgjyotiṣa, Bhagadatta, with hundreds of shafts.

Word by Word

• कृपम्: Kripa (Kripacharya)
• कृपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• नवभिः: with nine
• नवभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• भृशम्: severely, greatly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम्

• विद्ध्वा: having pierced
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), having pierced

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः

• प्राग्ज्योतिषम्: the king of Pragjyotisha (Bhagadatta)
• प्राग्ज्योतिषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राग्ज्योतिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शतैः: with hundreds (of)
• शतैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• आजी: in battle
• आजी: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आजी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• विव्याध: pierced
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सायकैः: with arrows
• सायकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Kṛpa (Kṛpācārya)
• Prāgjyotiṣa
• Bhagadatta

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the intensity of kṣatriya warfare: skill and courage operate within a grim ethical landscape where duty and anger can amplify violence. It invites reflection on how righteous duty (dharma) in war still carries moral gravity and consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that in the battle Bhīma severely wounds Kṛpa with nine arrows from all sides and then showers the king of Prāgjyotiṣa, Bhagadatta, with hundreds of arrows.