Shloka 44

Devanagari script

ततोअ<स्यानुचरान्‌ हत्वा सर्वान्‌ रणविभागवित्‌ | भीष्ममेवाभिदुद्राव बीभत्सुरपराजित:

Transliteration

tato 'sya anucarān hatvā sarvān raṇavibhāgavit | bhīṣmam evābhidudrāva bībhatsur aparājitaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Arjuna—skilled in reading the divisions and tactics of battle, and unconquered—slew all the warriors who followed behind Bhīṣma, and thereafter rushed straight at Bhīṣma himself. The moment reveals kṣatriya-dharma: decisive action in war, yet aimed at a clear strategic and moral end, not indiscriminate slaughter.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereupon/then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from there/thereupon')

• अस्य: of him/this (his)
• अस्य: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अनुचरान्: followers/attendants
• अनुचरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुचर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• हत्वा: having killed
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), 'having slain'

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• रणविभागवित्: knower of battle-formations/tactics
• रणविभागवित्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण-विभाग-वित्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीष्मम्: Bhishma
• भीष्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एव: indeed/only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: Avyaya

• अभिदुद्राव: rushed/ran towards
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-द्रु
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• बीभत्सुः: Bibhatsu (Arjuna)
• बीभत्सुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीभत्सु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपराजितः: unconquered/unvanquished
• अपराजितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-पराजित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (past passive participle used adjectivally)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna (Bībhatsu)
• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed through disciplined, goal-directed force: Arjuna removes immediate obstacles (Bhīṣma’s followers) and then confronts the principal commander, showing strategic clarity and steadfastness rather than impulsive violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the thick of battle, Arjuna first kills the warriors moving with/behind Bhīṣma and then charges directly at Bhīṣma, signaling an attempt to engage the key leader after clearing his protective screen.