Shloka 20

भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्

Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

तमापततन्तं वेगेन प्रभिन्नमिव वारणम्‌

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

tam āpatantaṃ vegena prabhinnam iva vāraṇam |

sahasā pratyudīyāya bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo 'rjunam ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing Arjuna rush forward with tremendous speed—like a maddened elephant breaking through the ranks—Bhīṣma, the son of Śantanu, at once advanced to meet him. Beholding him on the battlefield terrifying the heroes and crushing them with volleys of arrows, and seeing him guarded by kings such as Jayadratha and by warriors of the eastern lands, of Sauvīra, and of Kekaya, Śantanu’s son Bhīṣma suddenly moved toward Arjuna.

Word by Word

• तम्: him (Arjuna)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आपतन्तम्: coming/falling upon, rushing
• आपतन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: आपत् (धातु: पत्/आपत्)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वेगेन: with speed
• वेगेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रभिन्नम्: maddened, in rut (lit. split/oozing)
• प्रभिन्नम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभिन्न (from धातु: भिद् with प्र-; past participle)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• वारणम्: elephant
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सहसा: suddenly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा

• प्रत्युदीयाय: went forth against, advanced to meet
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उद्-या (धातु: या)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• शान्तनवः: son of Shantanu
• शान्तनवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्तनव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अर्जुनम्: Arjuna
• अर्जुनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• Arjuna
• Śantanu
• elephant (vāraṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in wartime: when a powerful warrior advances, the responsible leader does not evade but meets the challenge, prioritizing protection of allies and steadfastness in duty even under danger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna charges forward with tremendous momentum, compared to a rut-maddened elephant. Bhīṣma, the Kuru commander and son of Śantanu, immediately advances to confront Arjuna head-on.