Shloka 58
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
Devanagari script
असिवेगप्रभग्नास्ते छिन्नबाहूरुवक्षस:
Transliteration
asivegaprabhagnās te chinnabāhūruvakṣasaḥ
Translation
Bhīṣma dit : «Ces hommes, brisés par l’élan de l’épée, gisaient, les bras, les cuisses et la poitrine tranchés.»
Word by Word
असि-वेग-प्रभग्नाःbroken/shattered by the force of the sword
असि-वेग-प्रभग्नाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रभग्न (प्र + √भञ्ज्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तेthey/those
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
छिन्न-बाहु-ऊरु-वक्षसःwith arms, thighs, and chests cut (off)
छिन्न-बाहु-ऊरु-वक्षसः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootछिन्न (√छिद्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaS
sword (asi)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
By depicting bodies shattered and severed by sword-force, the verse highlights the harsh reality and moral gravity of violence, implicitly urging discernment, restraint, and reflection on the true cost of war even when framed within duty.
Bhīṣma describes the aftermath of sword-driven combat: fighters are struck down, their limbs and chests cut, conveying a battlefield scene of severe carnage.