Shloka 36

भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्

Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

यततां सर्वसैन्यानां मूलं न: परिकृन्तति । त्वयि जीवति गाड्गेय द्रोणे च रथिनां वरे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

yatatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ mūlaṃ naḥ parikṛntati |

tvayi jīvati gāṅgeya droṇe ca rathināṃ vare ||

Translation

Sanjaya said: “Though all our forces strive with full effort, he is cutting down the very root of our army. O Ganga’s son (Bhishma), even while you are alive—and while Drona, the best of chariot-warriors, still lives—our soldiers are being slain.”

Word by Word

• {'sañjaya uvāca': 'Sanjaya said', 'yatatām': 'of those striving

• exerting themselves (gen. pl. of yatat)', 'sarva-sainyānām': 'of all the armies/forces', 'mūlam': 'root

• base (i.e., the core strength)', 'naḥ': 'our

• of us', 'parikṛntati': 'cuts down

• destroys at the root', 'tvayi jīvati': 'while you are alive

• even with you living', 'gāṅgeya': 'son of the Ganga (Bhishma)', 'droṇe ca': 'and (while) Drona (is alive/present)', 'rathinām': 'of chariot-warriors', 'vare': 'best

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Bhishma (Gāṅgeya)
• Drona
• Arjuna
• Krishna
• Kaurava army
• Pandava side

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Mere reputation, seniority, or numerical strength cannot guarantee victory; when resolve, skill, and righteous momentum (here embodied by Arjuna supported by Krishna) converge, even a mighty army’s ‘root’ can be shaken. The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: celebrated elders remain, yet the side’s confidence collapses as destruction mounts.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports to the Kaurava court that Arjuna, arriving with Krishna, is devastating their forces despite the Kauravas’ strenuous resistance. He expresses astonishment that this is occurring even while Bhishma and Drona—pillars of the Kaurava command—are still alive and leading.