Shloka 456

Devanagari script

गाड़ेयं पञ्चविंशत्या क्षुद्रकाणां समार्पयत्‌ । तदनन्तर अर्जुनने हँसकर गाण्डीव धनुषकी टंकार करते हुए गंगानन्दन भीष्मको पचीस बाण मारे

Transliteration

gāḍeyaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṣudrakāṇāṃ samārpayat | tadanantaraṃ arjunena haṃsakaṛ gāṇḍīva-dhanuṣas ṭaṅkāraṃ kurvatā gaṅgānandanaṃ bhīṣmaṃ pañcaviṃśati-bāṇaiḥ āhataḥ |

Translation

Sanjaya said: Arjuna, smiling and making the Gandiva bow resound with its twang, then struck Bhishma—the son of the Ganga—with twenty-five arrows. The scene underscores the grim discipline of war: even the most revered elder is met with force when duty and allegiance place him on the opposing side.

Word by Word

• गाण्डीवेन: with (the bow) Gāṇḍīva
• गाण्डीवेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीव
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• पञ्चविंशत्या: with twenty-five (as a number); by a set of twenty-five
• पञ्चविंशत्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चविंशति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• क्षुद्रकाणाम्: of small (arrows/shafts) (i.e., small arrows)
• क्षुद्रकाणाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुद्रक
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• समार्पयत्: he delivered/shot/assigned (onto)
• समार्पयत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√र्प (अर्प्)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Arjuna
• Bhishma
• Ganga
• Gandiva (bow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the tension between reverence and duty: even an honored elder like Bhishma must be opposed in battle when one’s dharma and chosen allegiance demand it. Ethical action here is framed as disciplined adherence to role-based duty amid tragic conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports that Arjuna, smiling and sounding the Gandiva’s bowstring, shoots Bhishma—called the son of Ganga—with twenty-five arrows, marking a forceful exchange in the Kurukshetra war.