Shloka 26

Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

प्रतिलभ्य तत: संज्ञां भीमसेनो महाबल: । दुर्योधन त्रिभिर्विद्ध्वा पुनर्विव्याध पञचभि:,तत्पश्चात्‌ होशमें आनेपर महाबली भीमसेनने दुर्योधनको पहले तीन बाणोंसे बींधकर फिर पाँच बाणोंसे घायल किया

Transliteration

pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ | duryodhanaṃ tribhir viddhvā punar vivyādha pañcabhiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Regaining consciousness, the mighty Bhīmasena struck Duryodhana—piercing him first with three arrows and then wounding him again with five more. The episode underscores the relentless momentum of battle, where recovery is immediately tested by renewed assault and endurance becomes a measure of martial resolve.

Word by Word

• प्रतिलभ्य: having regained
• प्रतिलभ्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रतिलभ् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, अव्ययभाव), कर्तरि, पूर्वकाल (absolutive)

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)

• संज्ञाम्: consciousness
• संज्ञाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• भीमसेनः: Bhimasena
• भीमसेनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाबलः: mighty/very strong
• महाबलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दुर्योधनम्: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• त्रिभिः: with three (arrows)
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• विद्ध्वा: having pierced
• विद्ध्वा: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्/विध् (धातु) (विध् = वेधने)
• Form: क्त्वा, कर्तरि, पूर्वकाल (absolutive)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)

• विव्याध: pierced/wounded
• विव्याध: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध् (धातु) (व्यध् = वेधने)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पञ्चभिः: with five (arrows)
• पञ्चभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Duryodhana
• arrows (bāṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights battlefield resilience and the uncompromising demands of kṣatriya conduct: even after being stunned or losing awareness, a warrior must recover composure and continue the fight; likewise, opponents press advantage without pause, revealing the harsh ethical landscape of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Bhīma regains consciousness and immediately attacks Duryodhana, striking him with three arrows and then again with five, intensifying the duel through successive volleys.