Mahabharata 9.11.61 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 11, Shloka 61

Śalya–Bhīma Gadā-saṃnipāta and Śalya’s Bāṇa-jāla against Yudhiṣṭhira

Book 9, Chapter 11

Devanagari script

स भिजन्नमर्मा रुधिरं वमन्‌ वित्रस्तमानस:

Transliteration

sa bhijannamarmā rudhiraṃ vaman vitrastamānasaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: With his vital points shattered, vomiting blood, and his mind seized by terror, he was left in a grievously wounded state—an image of how the violence of war swiftly reduces even the mighty to helpless suffering.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भिजन्: splitting, piercing
• भिजन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद्
• Form: Present active participle (Parasmaipada), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• मर्मा: vital parts, vulnerable spots
• मर्मा: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• रुधिरम्: blood
• रुधिरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुधिर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वमन्: vomiting, spewing
• वमन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वम्
• Form: Present active participle (Parasmaipada), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वित्रस्तमानसः: with a terrified mind
• वित्रस्तमानसः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वित्रस्त-मानस
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the stark ethical reality of war: bodily power and pride collapse instantly when vital points are struck, revealing the fragility of life and the heavy cost that adharma-driven violence exacts on all involved.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a warrior (implied by context) who has been grievously wounded—his vital points shattered—so that he vomits blood and becomes mentally terrified, indicating a decisive, debilitating injury on the battlefield.