Shloka 18

भीष्मस्य अप्रतिमपराक्रमः — शिखण्डिपुरस्कृतः प्रहारः

Bhīṣma’s unmatched momentum and the assault with Śikhaṇḍin in the lead

Devanagari script

अर्जुन रभसं युद्धे पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्‌ । भीष्मप्रेप्सु महाराज भासयन्तं दिशो दश

Transliteration

arjuna rabhasaṁ yuddhe puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam | bhīṣmaprepsu mahārāja bhāsayantaṁ diśo daśa ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: O King, Arjuna, in the heat of battle, placing Śikhaṇḍin in front, advanced with the intent of reaching Bhīṣma, his onset making the ten directions blaze—an act that underscores the grim strategy of war, where even a righteous warrior must employ tactical means to confront an otherwise unconquerable elder.

Word by Word

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रभसम्: impetuosity, fierce onset
• रभसम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रभस
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• पुरस्कृत्य: having placed in front, putting forward
• पुरस्कृत्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: पुरस् + कृ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), indeclinable

• शिखण्डिनम्: Shikhandin
• शिखण्डिनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भीष्मप्रेप्सुः: desiring to reach/attack Bhishma
• भीष्मप्रेप्सुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीष्म + प्रेप्सु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, प्रेप्सु (desiderative adjective from √आप्/आप्नोति 'to obtain', via desiderative sense 'wishing to reach/attain')

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• भासयन्तम्: making shine, illuminating
• भासयन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: भास् (causative: भासय-)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle), Parasmaipada (causative usage)

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• दश: ten
• दश: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्
• Form: —, —, —, indeclinable numeral used adjectivally with 'दिशः'

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Arjuna
• Śikhaṇḍin
• Bhīṣma
• ten directions (diśaḥ daśa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the tension between dharma and battlefield necessity: even a righteous warrior may adopt a tactical arrangement (placing Śikhaṇḍin ahead) to confront a formidable elder like Bhīṣma, showing how duty in war can demand difficult, morally weighty choices.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna, with great force, advances in battle while keeping Śikhaṇḍin in the forefront, aiming to close in on Bhīṣma; Arjuna’s assault is described as so intense that it seems to light up all directions.