Shloka 25

भीष्मवधोपाय-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into the means to overcome Bhīṣma) | Chapter 103

Devanagari script

स गत्वा त्वरितं वीरं॑ जहि सौभद्रमाहवे

Transliteration

sa gatvā tvaritaṃ vīraṃ jahi saubhadram āhave

Translation

હે વીર! ત્વરિત ત્યાં જઈને યુદ્ધમાં સૌભદ્ર (અભિમન્યુ)ને સંહાર.

Word by Word

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

• गत्वा: having gone
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• त्वरितम्: quickly / in haste
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वरित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वीरम्: the hero/warrior
• वीरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• जहि: slay! kill!
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सौभद्रम्: the son of Subhadrā (Abhimanyu)
• सौभद्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभद्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आहवे: in battle
• आहवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Saubhadra (Abhimanyu)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the moral strain inherent in war: commands framed as ‘duty’ can become ethically troubling when they reduce a noble opponent to a mere target. It invites reflection on how dharma in battle can be invoked to justify harsh expediency.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a battlefield instruction urging a warrior to move quickly and kill Saubhadra (Abhimanyu) in combat, emphasizing urgency and lethal intent within the Kurukṣetra war’s unfolding tactics.