Shloka 34

भीष्मरक्षण-उद्योगः, शिखण्डि-विवर्जनं, सर्वतोभद्र-व्यूहः

Protection of Bhīṣma, Exemption of Śikhaṇḍin, and the Sarvatobhadra Array

Devanagari script

बाह्लीकं च त्रिभिणि: प्रत्यविध्यत्‌ स्तनान्तरे । कृपमेकेन विव्याध चित्रसेनं त्रिभि: शरै:,तत्पश्चात्‌ तीन बाणोंसे बाह्नीककी छातीमें गहरी चोट पहुँचायी। एक बाणसे कृपाचार्यको और तीनसे चित्रसेनको भी बींध डाला

Transliteration

bāhlīkaṃ ca tribhiḥ pratyavidhyat stanāntare | kṛpam ekena vivyādha citrasenaṃ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya said: He struck Bāhlīka with three arrows in the region of the chest, piercing him deeply. Then, with a single arrow he wounded Kṛpa, and with three arrows he also pierced Citrasena—an unbroken sequence of precise blows amid the moral chaos of battle, where prowess is displayed through measured, targeted force rather than indiscriminate slaughter.

Word by Word

• बाह्लीकम्: Bāhlīka (name of a warrior)
• बाह्लीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाह्लीक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• प्रत्यविध्यत्: pierced/struck through
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Imperfect, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada, Active, प्रति,अव

• स्तनान्तरे: in the space between the breasts (in the chest)
• स्तनान्तरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन-अन्तर
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• कृपम्: Kṛpa (Kripācārya)
• कृपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एकेन: with one
• एकेन: Karana
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• विव्याध: pierced
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Perfect, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada, Active, वि

• चित्रसेनम्: Citraseṇa (name of a warrior)
• चित्रसेनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रसेन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

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

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bāhlīka
• Kṛpa (Kṛpācārya)
• Citrasena
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the battlefield ethic of kṣatriya conduct: skill and decisiveness are shown through precise, proportionate strikes against armed opponents. It implicitly contrasts disciplined martial action with uncontrolled cruelty, reminding the listener that even in war, action is expected to follow a code of restraint and competence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a rapid sequence of attacks: a warrior pierces Bāhlīka in the chest with three arrows, then wounds Kṛpa with one arrow, and finally pierces Citrasena with three arrows, indicating momentum and superior archery in the ongoing battle.