Shloka 25

भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्

Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

दुर्योधनश्चतुःषष्ट्या शल्यश्ल नवभि: शरै: । सैन्धवो नवभिश्लैव शकुनिश्चापि पञ्चभि:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

duryodhanaś catuḥṣaṣṭyā śalyāñ śarair navabhiḥ | saindhavo navabhiś caiva śakuniś cāpi pañcabhiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Duryodhana struck Śalya with sixty-four arrows; the king of Sindhu (Jayadratha) likewise with nine; and Śakuni too with five. Thus is it seen that in the frenzy of battle even allies may be driven to assail one another—an ethical collapse born of confusion, pride, and the consuming momentum of war.

Word by Word

• दुर्योधनः: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• चतुःषष्ट्या: with sixty-four
• चतुःषष्ट्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुःषष्टि
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• शल्यम्: Shalya
• शल्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नवभिः: with nine
• नवभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

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

• सैन्धवः: the Sindhu-king (Jayadratha)
• सैन्धवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्धव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नवभिः: with nine
• नवभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• शकुनिः: Shakuni
• शकुनिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुनि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• पञ्चभिः: with five
• पञ्चभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duryodhana
• Śalya
• Saindhava (Jayadratha)
• Śakuni
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how war’s chaos and the dominance of anger and pride can erode discernment, leading to ethically disastrous acts—even against one’s own side—illustrating the Mahābhārata’s warning about adharma multiplying through violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a moment in the battle where Duryodhana shoots Śalya with sixty-four arrows, while Jayadratha (Saindhava) shoots him with nine and Śakuni with five, emphasizing the intensity and confusion of the fighting.