Shloka 19

Bhīṣma-nipāta-saṃvāda — Sañjaya’s Report of Bhīṣma’s Fall (भीष्मनिपातसंवादः)

Devanagari script

कृपे संनिहिते तत्र भरद्वाजात्मजे तथा । भीष्म: प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठ; कथं स निधनं गत:,उस युद्धमें कृपाचार्य तथा भरद्वाजपुत्र द्रोणाचार्य दोनों ही उनके निकट थे, तो भी योद्धाओंमें श्रेष्ठ भीष्म कैसे मारे गये?

Transliteration

kṛpe saṃnihite tatra bharadvājātmaje tathā | bhīṣmaḥ praharatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ kathaṃ sa nidhanaṃ gataḥ ||

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “When Kṛpa and Droṇa, the son of Bharadvāja, were both present there close by, how did Bhīṣma—foremost among those who strike in battle—come to meet his end? Even with such protectors at hand, by what course of fate and conduct was he brought down?”

Word by Word

• कृपे: when Kripa (was present)
• कृपे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• संनिहिते: being present/nearby
• संनिहिते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सं-नि-धा (धातु) → संनिहित (कृदन्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• भरद्वाज: of Bharadvaja
• भरद्वाज: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरद्वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• आत्मजे: in/when the son (was present) (i.e., Drona)
• आत्मजे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रहरताम्: of the strikers/fighters (those who strike)
• प्रहरताम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र-हृ (धातु) → प्रहरत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ) / प्रहरत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• श्रेष्ठः: the best
• श्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निधनम्: death/destruction
• निधनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• गतः: went/attained
• गतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Kṛpa (Kṛpācārya)
• Droṇa (Bharadvāja’s son)
• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the tension between martial excellence and vulnerability: even the greatest warrior can fall despite strong allies. It invites reflection on dharma and the limits of protection—skill and support do not guarantee outcomes when larger forces (strategy, vows, destiny, moral constraints) shape events.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions Sañjaya about Bhīṣma’s downfall. He notes that Kṛpa and Droṇa were nearby on the battlefield, and wonders how Bhīṣma—renowned as the best among fighters—could nevertheless be brought to a fatal end.