Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 12

भीष्मस्य अप्रतिमपराक्रमः — शिखण्डिपुरस्कृतः प्रहारः

Bhīṣma’s unmatched momentum and the assault with Śikhaṇḍin in the lead

Devanagari script

सहदेवं तथा राजन्‌ यान्तं भीष्मरथं प्रति

Transliteration

sahadevaṃ tathā rājan yāntaṃ bhīṣmarathaṃ prati

Translation

Sañjaya dit : «Ô roi, Sahadeva aussi avançait, se dirigeant vers le char de Bhīṣma.»

Word by Word

• सहदेवम्: Sahadeva (as object)
• सहदेवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहदेव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तथा: also; likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यान्तम्: going; proceeding
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भीष्मरथम्: Bhishma's chariot
• भीष्मरथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म-रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रति: towards; against
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Sahadeva
• Bhīṣma
• Bhīṣma’s chariot

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfast performance of one’s assigned duty in a righteous cause: even amid fearsome opposition (Bhīṣma), Sahadeva advances without hesitation, reflecting disciplined commitment rather than impulsive aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Sahadeva is moving forward on the battlefield, directing his advance toward Bhīṣma’s chariot—indicating an engagement with the formidable commander.