Shloka 8

भीष्मशिबिरगमनम् — Duryodhana’s Visit to Bhīṣma’s Camp and the Command Appeal

Devanagari script

ऐरावतेन सा दत्ता अनपत्या महात्मना । पतौ हते सुपर्णेन कृपणा दीनचेतना,नागराजकी वह पुत्री संतानहीन थी। उसके मनोनीत पतिको- गरुड़ने मार डाला था, जिससे वह अत्यन्त दीन एवं दयनीय हो रही थी। ऐरावतवंशी कौरव्यनागने उसे अर्जुनको अर्पित किया और अर्जुनने कामके अधीन हुई उस नागकन्याको भारयर्िपमें ग्रहण किया था। इस प्रकार यह अर्जुनपुत्र उत्पन्न हुआ था। वह सदा मातृकुलमें ही रहा

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | airāvatena sā dattā anapatyā mahātmanā | patau hate suparṇena kṛpaṇā dīnacetanā ||

Translation

Sanjaya said: That noble descendant of Airāvata gave her in marriage—she was childless. When her chosen husband had been slain by Suparṇa (Garuḍa), she became pitiable, her mind sunk in grief and helplessness.

Word by Word

ऐरावतेनby Airāvata (one of Airāvata lineage)

साshe

दत्ताgiven (in marriage)

अनपत्याchildless

महात्मनाby the great-souled one

पतौwhen/with the husband (in the husband’s case)

हतेbeing slain

सुपर्णेनby Suparṇa (Garuḍa)

कृपणाwretched, pitiable

दीनचेतनाof dejected mind

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Airāvata (lineage reference)

Suparṇa (Garuḍa)

the unnamed woman (Nāga maiden implied by context)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and social concern for a vulnerable, bereaved woman and the importance placed on restoring stability—especially lineage and protection—after violence has shattered prior bonds.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a woman who is childless and whose husband was killed by Garuḍa; she is left grief-stricken and pitiable, setting the background for her being given in marriage by a noble figure of Airāvata’s line.