Shloka 72

Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava

Devanagari script

भारमेतं विनेष्यामि पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्‌ | अर्जनो हि शरैस्तीक3्षणैर्वध्यमानो5पि संयुगे

Transliteration

bhāram etaṁ vineṣyāmi pāṇḍavānāṁ mahātmanām | arjano hi śarais tīkṣṇair vadhyamāno 'pi saṁyuge

Translation

Sañjaya said: “I shall remove this burden that weighs upon the great-souled Pāṇḍavas. For Arjuna, even though assailed in battle by sharp arrows, still stands firm in the fight.”

Word by Word

• भारम्: burden
• भारम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एतम्: this
• एतम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विनेष्यामि: I shall remove / carry off / destroy
• विनेष्यामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (नयति) + वि
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), First, Singular

• पाण्डवानाम्: of the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• महात्मनाम्: of the great-souled
• महात्मनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

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

• हि: indeed / for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तीक्ष्णैः: sharp
• तीक्ष्णैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वध्यमानः: being slain / being struck down
• वध्यमानः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वध्
• Form: Present passive participle (Śatṛ/Śānac in passive sense), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• संयुगे: in battle
• संयुगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pāṇḍavas
• Arjuna
• arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness in duty: even when wounded and pressured in battle, a warrior like Arjuna remains resolute. Ethically, it underscores endurance and commitment to one’s rightful responsibility (kṣatriya-dharma) amid suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya, narrating the battlefield events, expresses confidence that the burden afflicting the Pāṇḍavas will be lifted. He points to Arjuna’s continued fighting despite being showered with sharp arrows, indicating Arjuna’s resilience and the momentum of the Pāṇḍava side.