Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 11
Abhimanyunidhana-prakāśaḥ — Vasudeva–Kṛṣṇa–Subhadrā–Kuntī śoka-saṃvāda
Disclosure and Consolation
Devanagari script
ततः शिखण्डी गाड़ेयं युध्यमानं महाहवे । जघान बहुभिर्बाणै: सह गाण्डीवधन्चना
Transliteration
tataḥ śikhaṇḍī gāṅgeyaṁ yudhyamānaṁ mahāhave | jaghāna bahubhir bāṇaiḥ saha gāṇḍīvadhanvanā ||
Translation
तब शिखण्डी ने उस महासमर में युद्ध करते हुए गाङ्गेय भीष्म को—गाण्डीवधारी अर्जुन के साथ—अनेक बाणों से विद्ध कर दिया।
Word by Word
ततःthen/thereafter
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
FormAvyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from that/thereafter')
शिखण्डीShikhaṇḍī
शिखण्डी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशिखण्डिन्
FormMasculine, nominative, singular
गाङ्गेयम्Gāṅgeya (Bhīṣma, son of Gaṅgā)
गाङ्गेयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगाङ्गेय
FormMasculine, accusative, singular
युध्यमानम्fighting
युध्यमानम्:
TypeVerb
Rootयुध्यमान
FormPresent participle (śatṛ/śānac), accusative masculine singular; from dhātu √युध् (युध्यते)
महाहवेin the great battle
महाहवे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमहाहव
FormMasculine, locative, singular
जघानstruck/slew
जघान:
TypeVerb
Root√हन्
FormPerfect (liṭ), 3rd person, singular, parasmaipada
बहुभिःwith many
बहुभिः:
TypeAdjective
Rootबहु
FormMasculine/Neuter, instrumental, plural
बाणैःarrows
बाणैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootबाण
FormMasculine, instrumental, plural
सहtogether with
सह:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसह
FormAvyaya (preposition-like; governs instrumental)
गाण्डीवधन्वनाwith the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva bow (Arjuna)
गाण्डीवधन्वना:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootगाण्डीवधन्वन्
FormMasculine, instrumental, singular
Speaker
वासुदेव उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
Vāsudeva (speaker)Ś
ŚikhaṇḍīG
Gāṅgeya (Bhīṣma)A
Arjuna (Gāṇḍīvadhanvan)G
Gāṇḍīva (bow)G
Gaṅgā (implied by 'Gāṅgeya')Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Even in a dharmic war, outcomes often hinge on alliances, strategy, and the moral-psychological constraints created by one’s vows and past choices; sheer strength alone does not determine victory.
Śikhaṇḍī, alongside Arjuna wielding the Gāṇḍīva, showers Bhīṣma (the son of Gaṅgā) with many arrows during the great battle, severely wounding him.