Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 68

Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions

Devanagari script

श्रुतकर्मा ततः क्रुद्ध: काम्बोजानां महारथम्‌ | शरैरबहुभिरानर्च्छदू दारयन्निव सर्वश:

Transliteration

śrutakarmā tataḥ kruddhaḥ kāmbojānāṁ mahāratham | śarair bahubhir ānarcched dārayann iva sarvaśaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Śrutakarmā, enraged, assailed the great chariot-warrior of the Kāmbojas with many arrows, as though tearing him apart on every side.

Word by Word

• श्रुतकर्मा: Shrutakarman (proper name)
• श्रुतकर्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुतकर्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• क्रुद्धः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• काम्बोजानाम्: of the Kambojas
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम्बोज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• महारथम्: the great chariot-warrior
• महारथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• बहुभिः: many
• बहुभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• आनर्च्छत्: he struck/assailed
• Type: Verb
• Root: ऋच्छ् (आ-)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• उदारयन्: tearing, rending
• उदारयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: उदारय्
• Form: Present active participle (śatṛ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: as if, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• सर्वशः: on all sides, entirely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śrutakarmā
• Kāmboja mahāratha (Kāmboja warrior/king)
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how anger (krodha) intensifies destructive action in war: martial excellence is shown through forceful assault, yet ethically it also illustrates the peril of wrath—once it dominates, violence becomes all-consuming and indiscriminate.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Śrutakarmā, provoked and furious, showers the Kāmboja great warrior with a dense volley of arrows, striking from all directions as if ripping him apart.