Shloka 21

Śalya Appointed as Karṇa’s Sārathi; Discourse on Praise, Blame, and Beneficial Counsel (कर्णस्य शल्यसारथ्यं तथा स्तवनिन्दाविचारः)

Devanagari script

शिखण्डिनं तु समरे भीष्ममृत्युं दुरासदम्‌

Transliteration

śikhaṇḍinaṃ tu samare bhīṣmamṛtyuṃ durāsadam

Translation

Sañjaya said: “But Śikhaṇḍin, on the battlefield, was the hard-to-approach instrument of Bhīṣma’s death.”

Word by Word

• शिखण्डिनम्: Śikhaṇḍin (as object)
• शिखण्डिनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• भीष्ममृत्युम्: the death of Bhīṣma / Bhīṣma's death
• भीष्ममृत्युम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्ममृत्यु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दुरासदम्: hard to approach/assail
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरासद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śikhaṇḍin
• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that power in war is not merely physical; outcomes hinge on moral constraints, past causes, and strategic conditions—here, Śikhaṇḍin becomes the decisive factor connected with Bhīṣma’s destined end.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya identifies Śikhaṇḍin as the formidable battlefield presence associated with Bhīṣma’s death—pointing to Śikhaṇḍin’s crucial role in the circumstances that lead to Bhīṣma’s downfall.