Shloka 6

Bhīṣma-nipāta-saṃvāda — Sañjaya’s Report of Bhīṣma’s Fall (भीष्मनिपातसंवादः)

Devanagari script

के शूरा रथशार्दूलमद्धुतं क्षत्रियर्षभम्‌ । तथानीकं गाहमानं सहसा पृष्ठतो<न्वयु:

Transliteration

ke śūrā rathaśārdūlam adbhutaṁ kṣatriyarṣabham | tathānīkaṁ gāhamānaṁ sahasā pṛṣṭhato 'nvayuḥ ||

Translation

धृतराष्ट्र बोले—जब रथियों में सिंह के समान अद्भुत पराक्रमी, क्षत्रिय-श्रेष्ठ भीष्म शत्रु-सेना में घुस रहे थे, तब कौन-से वीर सहसा उनके पास पहुँचकर उनके पृष्ठभाग का अनुसरण करते हुए उनकी रक्षा में लगे रहे?

Word by Word

• के: which (persons)
• के: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शूराः: heroes, brave men
• शूराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रथशार्दूलम्: the tiger among chariot-warriors
• रथशार्दूलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथशार्दूल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अद्भुतम्: marvellous, wondrous
• अद्भुतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• क्षत्रियर्षभम्: the bull among kshatriyas (best of warriors)
• क्षत्रियर्षभम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रियर्षभ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• अनीकम्: army, battle-array
• अनीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• गाहमानम्: entering, plunging into
• गाहमानम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: गाह्
• Form: शानच् (present active participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सहसा: suddenly, at once
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा

• पृष्ठतः: from behind, at the back
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठतस्

• अन्वयुः: followed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-इ
• Form: लिट् (perfect), Parasmaipada, Third, Plural

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Bhīṣma
• anīka (army/host)
• ratha (chariot)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: steadfast loyalty to a commander, disciplined protection of the leader’s rear, and coordinated courage rather than solitary heroism.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra, eager to know the course of the battle, asks Sañjaya which warriors quickly closed in behind Bhīṣma as he drove into the enemy formation, effectively supporting and safeguarding him.