Shloka 58

धृतराष्ट्रविलापः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament and Inquiry (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 2)

Devanagari script

रणमूर्थ्नि हतो भीष्म: पश्यतां व: किरीटिना

Transliteration

raṇamūrdhni hato bhīṣmaḥ paśyatāṃ vaḥ kirīṭinā

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “On the very forefront of the battlefield, Bhīṣma was struck down by the diademed warrior (Arjuna), before your very eyes.” The line underscores the stark moral shock of war: even the most venerable and righteous elder can fall when dharma is entangled in conflicting loyalties and the necessities of battle.

Word by Word

• रणमूर्ध्नि: on the battlefield (lit. on the battle-head/front)
• रणमूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रणमूर्धन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• हतः: slain
• हतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पश्यताम्: while (you) are watching / as (you) look on
• पश्यताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Imperative, Parasmaipada

• वः: of you / your
• वः: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Plural

• किरीटिना: by the diademed one (Arjuna)
• किरीटिना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीटिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīṣma
• Arjuna (Kirīṭin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the tragic impartiality of war: status, age, and virtue do not guarantee safety. It also points to the ethical tension in the Mahābhārata—dharma can demand painful action when loyalties and duties collide.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator reports that Bhīṣma fell on the battlefield, brought down by Arjuna (the 'diademed' warrior), and that this occurred in full view of those being addressed.