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Shloka 8

भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः

Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed

तब क्रोधमें भरे हुए भगदत्तने पैने बाणोंद्वारा मधुवंशी सात्यकिको समरभूमिमें उसी प्रकार पीड़ित किया, जैसे महावत अंकुशोंद्वारा महान्‌ गजराजको पीड़ा देता है ।। विहाय राक्षसं युद्धे शैनेयो रथिनां वर: । प्राग्ज्योतिषाय चिक्षेप शरान्‌ संनतपर्वण:,तब रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ सात्यकिने युद्धमें उस राक्षसको छोड़कर प्राग्ज्योतिषपुरनरेश भगदत्तपर झुकी हुई गाँठवाले बहुत-से बाण चलाये

sañjaya uvāca |

tataḥ krodhena bharito bhagadatto niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ madhuvaṃśyaṃ sātyakiṃ samare tathā pīḍayām āsa yathā mahāmātraḥ aṅkuśaiḥ mahāgajarājaṃ pīḍayet ||

vihāya rākṣasaṃ yuddhe śaineyo rathināṃ varaḥ |

prāgjyotiṣāya cikṣepa śarān sannatapārvaṇaḥ ||

Dijo Sañjaya: Entonces Bhagadatta, colmado de ira, atormentó en el campo de batalla a Sātyaki de la estirpe de Madhu con flechas agudas, como un mahout hace sufrir al gran rey de los elefantes con el garfio. Luego el hijo de Śini, el mejor de los aurigas, dejando de lado en la lucha a aquel enemigo de aspecto rākṣasa, lanzó contra Bhagadatta, rey de Prāgjyotiṣa, muchas flechas de astas bien curvadas. La escena muestra cómo la cólera intensifica la violencia, mientras la contención táctica aparece en la decisión de Sātyaki de volverse contra el adversario principal.

विहायhaving abandoned/left
विहाय:
TypeVerb
Rootविहा (वि+हा)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage)
राक्षसम्the rākṣasa (demon/ogre)
राक्षसम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootराक्षस
Formmasculine, accusative, singular
युद्धेin battle
युद्धे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध
Formneuter, locative, singular
शैनेयःŚaineya (Sātyaki, descendant of Śini)
शैनेयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशैनेय
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
रथिनाम्of chariot-warriors
रथिनाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootरथिन्
Formmasculine, genitive, plural
वरःbest/excellent
वरः:
TypeAdjective
Rootवर
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
प्राग्ज्योतिषायto/for the Prāgjyotiṣa (king of Prāgjyotiṣa; i.e., Bhagadatta)
प्राग्ज्योतिषाय:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootप्राग्ज्योतिष
Formneuter, dative, singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
चिक्षेपhe hurled/shot
चिक्षेप:
TypeVerb
Rootक्षिप्
Formलिट् (perfect), third, singular, parasmaipada, active
शरान्arrows
शरान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशर
Formmasculine, accusative, plural
संनतपर्वणःhaving bent/curved joints (i.e., with curved knots)
संनतपर्वणः:
TypeAdjective
Rootसंनतपर्वन्
Formmasculine, accusative, plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
B
Bhagadatta
S
Satyaki (Yuyudhana)
S
Shini (as lineage reference: Śaineya)
M
Madhu lineage (Madhuvaṃśa)
P
Prāgjyotiṣa (kingdom)
R
Rākṣasa (as descriptor/opponent type)
A
Arrows (śara)
E
Elephant-goad (aṅkuśa)
E
Elephant (gajarāja)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how anger (krodha) escalates harm in war, while also showing a warrior’s discernment: Satyaki shifts from a terrifying secondary foe to the principal enemy (Bhagadatta), suggesting that even amid violence, choice and focus matter.

Bhagadatta, enraged, pierces and pressures Satyaki with sharp arrows, likened to a mahout prodding an elephant with a hook. Satyaki then disengages from a rākṣasa-like opponent and redirects his attack toward Bhagadatta, shooting many well-crafted arrows at him.