Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

के शूरा रथशार्दूलमद्धुतं क्षत्रियर्षभम्‌ । तथानीकं गाहमानं सहसा पृष्ठतो<न्वयु:,किन शूरवीरोंने शत्रुसेनामें प्रवेश करते समय रथियोंमें सिंहके समान अद्भुत पराक्रमी, क्षत्रियशिरोमणि भीष्मजीके पास सहसा पहुँचकर सदा उनके पृष्ठभागका अनुसरण किया?

Transliteration

ke śūrā rathaśārdūlam adbhutaṁ kṣatriyarṣabham | tathānīkaṁ gāhamānaṁ sahasā pṛṣṭhato 'nvayuḥ ||

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra asked: “As Bhīṣma—the lion among chariot-warriors, wondrous in prowess, the bull among kṣatriyas—plunged into the enemy host, which valiant heroes rushed to him at once and followed close behind, guarding his rear?”

Word by Word

केwhich (persons)

शूराःheroes, brave men

रथशार्दूलम्the tiger among chariot-warriors

अद्भुतम्marvellous, wondrous

क्षत्रियर्षभम्the bull among kshatriyas (best of warriors)

तथाthus, in that manner

अनीकम्army, battle-array

गाहमानम्entering, plunging into

सहसाsuddenly, at once

पृष्ठतःfrom behind, at the back

अन्वयुःfollowed

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Bhīṣma

anīka (army/host)

ratha (chariot)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: steadfast loyalty to a commander, disciplined protection of the leader’s rear, and coordinated courage rather than solitary heroism.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra, eager to know the course of the battle, asks Sañjaya which warriors quickly closed in behind Bhīṣma as he drove into the enemy formation, effectively supporting and safeguarding him.