Shloka 23

Chapter 51: Saṃdhyākāla-saṃhāra

Evening Withdrawal after Arjuna’s Counter-Advance

Devanagari script

पराक्रान्तस्य तस्यैव भीष्मो5पि प्राहिणोच्छरान्‌ | सतांश्रिच्छेद समरे भीष्मचापच्युतान्‌ शरान्‌

Transliteration

parākrāntasya tasyaiva bhīṣmo 'pi prāhiṇoc charān | satāṁśriccheda samare bhīṣmacāpacyutān śarān |

Translation

तब उस पराक्रमी वीर पर भीष्म ने भी बाण चलाए; परन्तु रणभूमि में अभिमन्यु ने भीष्म के धनुष से छूटे हुए सब शरों को काट डाला।

Word by Word

• पराक्रान्तस्य: of the valiant/one who had advanced
• पराक्रान्तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराक्रान्त (पर + आ + √क्रम्, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• प्राहिणोत्: sent/shot forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √हि (हिनोति)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सतान्: hundreds (of)
• सतान्: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (संख्या)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शरिच्छेदम्: the cutting of arrows / arrow-cutting
• शरिच्छेदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर-च्छेद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• भीष्मचापच्युतान्: released from Bhishma’s bow
• भीष्मचापच्युतान्: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीष्म-चाप-च्युत (√च्यु, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• Abhimanyu
• arrows (śara)
• bow (cāpa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: steadfastness and disciplined skill in battle. Even when faced with a revered elder-warrior like Bhīṣma, the younger hero meets force with controlled mastery, suggesting that duty in a righteous conflict demands courage without panic and competence without cruelty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Bhīṣma shooting arrows at a mighty warrior; Abhimanyu responds by cutting down the incoming arrows in mid-battle, neutralizing Bhīṣma’s attack and demonstrating exceptional prowess.