Shloka 27

Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)

Devanagari script

निस्त्रिंशमाददे घोरं चिकीर्षु: कर्म दारुणम्‌ चर्म चाप्रतिमं राजन्नार्षभं पुरुषर्षभ

Transliteration

nistriṁśam ādade ghoraṁ cikīrṣuḥ karma dāruṇam | carma cāpratimaṁ rājann ārṣabhaṁ puruṣarṣabha ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “O King, intent on carrying out a dreadful and ruthless deed, he took up a fearsome sword, and also an incomparable bull-hide shield—O best of men.”

Word by Word

• निस्त्रिंशम्: sword
• निस्त्रिंशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निस्त्रिंश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आददे: took up
• आददे: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (आ-दा)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चिकीर्षुः: wishing to do
• चिकीर्षुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (चिकीर्षु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कर्म: deed, act
• कर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दारुणम्: cruel, dreadful
• दारुणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• चर्म: shield (leather), hide
• चर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• अप्रतिमम्: incomparable
• अप्रतिमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रतिम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अर्षभम्: excellent, bull-like (best)
• अर्षभम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्षभ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पुरुषर्षभ: O bull among men
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष-ऋषभ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• rājan (Dhṛtarāṣṭra, implied addressee)
• nistriṁśa (sword)
• carma (shield)
• ārṣabha (bull-hide/bull-like shield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the moral gravity of violent action: even when framed as duty in war, the act is described as dāruṇa (ruthless) and ghora (dreadful), reminding the listener that martial resolve carries ethical weight and consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a warrior, determined to perform a harsh deed in battle, arms himself—taking up a fearsome sword and an incomparable bull-hide shield—signaling imminent close combat.