Shloka 19

Devanagari script

तदद्धुतं देवमनुष्यसाक्षिकं समीक्ष्य भूतानि विसिस्मियुस्तदा

Transliteration

tad adbhutaṁ devamanuṣya-sākṣikaṁ samīkṣya bhūtāni visismiyus tadā

Translation

Sañjaya said: Beholding that wondrous event—witnessed alike by gods and men—all beings looked on and, at that moment, were struck with astonishment.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful, marvelous
• अद्भुतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• देवमनुष्यसाक्षिकम्: witnessed by gods and men
• देवमनुष्यसाक्षिकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव-मनुष्य-साक्षिक
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• समीक्ष्य: having looked at, having observed
• समीक्ष्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+ईक्ष्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• भूतानि: beings, creatures
• भूतानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• विसिस्मियुः: were astonished, marveled
• विसिस्मियुः: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+स्मि
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• तदा: then, at that time
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• devas (gods)
• manuṣyas (humans)
• bhūtāni (all beings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid violent conflict, an act or occurrence of unmistakable greatness can evoke universal recognition—gods, humans, and all beings alike become witnesses. The verse highlights the ethical power of extraordinary conduct to command reverence beyond partisan divisions.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a remarkable event has just occurred on the battlefield. As it unfolds, it is seen by gods and humans, and the assembled beings react with collective astonishment.