Shloka 96

भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति उपालम्भः

Bhīṣma’s Reproof to Duryodhana

Devanagari script

प्रगृह्य विपुलं चापं सिंहवद्‌ विनदन्‌ मुहुः । तब राजा दुर्योधनने विशाल धनुष लेकर बारंबार सिंहके समान गर्जना करते हुए वहाँ घटोत्कचपर धावा किया

Transliteration

pragṛhya vipulaṃ cāpaṃ siṃhavad vinadan muhuḥ | tataḥ rājā duryodhanaḥ ghaṭotkacapar dhāvāya pravavṛte ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Grasping his mighty bow and repeatedly roaring like a lion, King Duryodhana then surged forward to charge at Ghaṭotkaca. The scene underscores how pride and martial fury can harden into reckless resolve amid the moral chaos of war.

Word by Word

• प्रगृह्य: having seized/taken up
• प्रगृह्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-ग्रह्
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• विपुलम्: large, broad
• विपुलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• चापम्: bow
• चापम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाप
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सिंहवत्: like a lion
• सिंहवत्: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सिंहवत्
• Form: true

• विनदन्: roaring, sounding
• विनदन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नद्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मुहुः: again and again, repeatedly
• मुहुः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः
• Form: true

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• दुर्योधन (Duryodhana)
• घटोत्कच (Ghaṭotkaca)
• चाप/धनुष् (bow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how martial pride and anger can drive a leader into aggressive action; in the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, such lion-like bravado may signal courage, but it can also reflect unchecked ego that deepens adharma and suffering in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Duryodhana seizing a large bow, roaring repeatedly like a lion, and then rushing to attack Ghaṭotkaca on the battlefield.