Shloka 20
Bhīṣma–Arjuna Strategic Engagement at Virāṭa’s Frontier (भीष्मार्जुनयुद्धम्)
Devanagari script
उत्सृज्य च महाबाहुद्रोंणपुत्रं धनंजय: । अभिदु॒द्राव सहसा कर्णमेव सपत्नजित्,तब शत्रुविजयी महाबाहु धनंजयने द्रोणपुत्रको वहीं छोड़कर सहसा कर्णपर ही धावा किया
Transliteration
utsṛjya ca mahābāhu-droṇaputraṁ dhanañjayaḥ | abhidudrāva sahasā karṇam eva sapatnajit ||
Translation
ત્યારે સપત્નજિત્ મહાબાહુ ધનંજયે દ્રોણપુત્રને બાજુએ મૂકી, સહસાએ કર્ણ પર જ ધાવા કર્યો।
Word by Word
उत्सृज्यhaving left/abandoned
उत्सृज्य:
TypeVerb
Rootउत्सृज् (उत्+सृज्)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), कर्तरि
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
महाबाहु-द्रोणपुत्रम्Drona's son (Ashvatthaman), the mighty-armed (one)
महाबाहु-द्रोणपुत्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootद्रोणपुत्र (प्रातिपदिक); महाबाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
धनंजयःDhananjaya (Arjuna)
धनंजयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधनंजय (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अभिदुद्रावran towards/charged at
अभिदुद्राव:
TypeVerb
Rootद्रु (धातु) with अभि-
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
सहसाsuddenly, impetuously
सहसा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसहसा
कर्णम्Karna
कर्णम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
एवindeed, only
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
सपत्नजित्conqueror of rivals
सपत्नजित्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसपत्नजित् (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
VaiśampāyanaD
Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)D
Droṇaputra (Aśvatthāmā)K
KarṇaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores decisive action aligned with a warrior’s duty: in battle one must prioritize the most pressing threat and act without hesitation, while maintaining focus and courage.
Arjuna stops engaging Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāmā) and immediately charges toward Karṇa, indicating a shift in target and battlefield priority.