Shloka 14

दुःशासनवधः (Duḥśāsana-vadha) — Bhīma’s vow-fulfillment in combat

Devanagari script

दृष्टवा तव सुतं तत्र गाढविद्धं सुतेजनै:

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā tava sutaṃ tatra gāḍha-viddhaṃ sutejanaiḥ

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Voyant ton fils là, transpercé profondément par des traits acérés, il contempla la sombre conséquence de la guerre—comment même les puissants sont abaissés lorsque la fureur du combat atteint sa cible.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• तव: of you/your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• सुतम्: son
• सुतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र
• Form: true

• गाढ-विद्धम्: deeply pierced/wounded
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गाढविद्ध
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन, क्त (past passive participle) within compound

• सु-तेजनैः: by sharp/bright weapons (lit. by good-edged ones)
• सु-तेजनैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुतेजस्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by 'your')
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son (Duryodhana implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line underscores the moral weight of war: violence returns as suffering, and power offers no immunity when one is entangled in a conflict driven by pride and adharma. It invites reflection on responsibility and the inevitable fruits of one’s choices.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that his son is seen on the battlefield grievously wounded—deeply pierced by sharp arrows—signaling a critical and painful turn in the fighting.