Shloka 8

Devanagari script

मार्तिकावतकं भोजं तत: कुज्जरकेतनम्‌ | क्षुरप्रेण समुन्मथ्य ननाद विसृजन्‌ शरान्‌,तत्पश्चात्‌ हाथीके चिह्नसे युक्त ध्वजावाले मार्तिकावतक नरेश भोजको एक क्षुरप्रद्वारा नष्ट करके अभिमन्युने बाणोंकी वर्षा करते हुए सिंहनाद किया

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

mārtikāvatakaṃ bhojaṃ tataḥ kujjaraketanam |

kṣurapreṇa samunmathya nanāda visṛjan śarān ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Abhimanyu, striking down Bhoja of Mārtikāvata—whose banner bore the emblem of an elephant—by means of a razor-edged arrow, roared aloud like a lion while releasing a shower of shafts. The scene underscores the fierce momentum of battle, where prowess and resolve are displayed through disciplined martial skill, even as the larger conflict continues to test the bounds of righteous conduct in war.

Word by Word

• मार्तिकावतकम्: the (king) of Mārtikāvataka
• मार्तिकावतकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्तिकावतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भोजम्: Bhoja (proper name)
• भोजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)

• कुज्जरकेतनम्: the one with an elephant-banner/elephant-emblem
• कुज्जरकेतनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुज्जर-केतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• क्षुरप्रेण: with a razor-headed arrow
• क्षुरप्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुरप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• समुन्मथ्य: having crushed/overthrown
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-√मथ्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• ननाद: roared, sounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नद्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• विसृजन्: releasing, discharging
• विसृजन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√सृज्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Abhimanyu
• Bhoja (of Mārtikāvata)
• Mārtikāvata
• Elephant-emblem banner (kujjaraketana)
• Kṣurapra (razor-edged arrow)
• Arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined martial excellence and fearless resolve in battle, while implicitly reminding the reader that such displays occur within a larger ethical tension of war—where power must be weighed against dharma and proper conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Abhimanyu strikes down a warrior named Bhoja from Mārtikāvata, identified by an elephant-emblem banner, using a razor-edged arrow; after this decisive hit, Abhimanyu roars and continues firing a volley of arrows.