Shloka 52

Devanagari script

ततस्तु निशितैर्बाणैस्तवानीकं वृकोदर:

Transliteration

tatastu niśitair bāṇais tavānīkaṃ vṛkodaraḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then, with razor-sharp arrows, Vṛkodara (Bhīma) struck at your army formation—pressing the attack with relentless force amid the chaos of battle.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable)

• तु: but, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable)

• निशितैः: with sharp (ones)
• निशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित (विशेषण/कृदन्त; नि-शि धातु से)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तव: of you, your
• तव: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• अनीकम्: army, host, battle-array
• अनीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वृकोदरः: Vrikodara (Bhima)
• वृकोदरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृकोदर (भीम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
• arrows (bāṇa)
• army/formation (anīka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of steadfast action in battle: Bhīma’s decisive assault represents disciplined courage and commitment to one’s chosen duty, even amid fear and disorder.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma (Vṛkodara) advances against the Kaurava forces, striking their battle-array with sharp arrows as the fighting intensifies.