Shloka 118

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्‌ हते महेष्वासे भीष्मेणाहवशोभिना

Transliteration

tasmin hate maheṣvāse bhīṣmeṇāhavśobhinā

Translation

Sañjaya said: When that great archer was slain by Bhīṣma, the very splendour of the battle seemed to change. In war, the fall of a foremost warrior shifts both the strategic balance and the moral temper of the field.

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that (situation/person)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• हते: when (he) was slain / in the slain (one)
• हते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• महेष्वासे: in the great archer
• महेष्वासे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• भीष्मेण: by Bhishma
• भीष्मेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• आहवशोभिना: by the battle-resplendent (one)
• आहवशोभिना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आहवशोभिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• maheṣvāsa (unnamed great archer)
• āhava (battlefield/war)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how the death of a principal warrior changes the course and character of a battle, reminding readers that martial glory and power are impermanent and that outcomes in war hinge on the fall of key agents.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a renowned archer has been slain by Bhīṣma, who is described as the one who makes the battle shine—indicating Bhīṣma’s dominance and the significant turning-point created by this kill.