Shloka 31

भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः

Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed

Devanagari script

सोअन्यत्‌ कार्मुकमादाय समरे भारसाधनम्‌ | माद्रीपुत्रं सुसंहृष्टो दशभिर्निशितै: शरै:

Transliteration

so 'nyat kārmukam ādāya samare bhārasādhanam | mādrīputraṁ susaṁhṛṣṭo daśabhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。「そののち彼は、戦場の重圧に耐えうる別の弓を取り上げ、昂ぶるままに、マードリーの子を剃刀のごとく鋭い矢十本で射抜いた。」

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अन्यत्: another
• अन्यत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कार्मुकम्: bow
• कार्मुकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्मुक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• भारसाधनम्: capable of bearing a heavy load (strong)
• भारसाधनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भारसाधन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• माद्रीपुत्रम्: the son of Madri
• माद्रीपुत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: माद्रीपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सुसंहृष्टः: highly delighted / exultant
• सुसंहृष्टः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + संहृष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past participle used adjectivally)

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Karana
• Type: Numeral
• Root: दशन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• निशितैः: sharp
• निशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural, क्त (past participle used adjectivally)

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

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Mādrī
• Mādrīputra (Nakula or Sahadeva)
• bow (kārmuka)
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of steadfast action in battle—skill, readiness, and resolve—while implicitly reminding the reader that even justified warfare carries moral gravity when directed against worthy opponents.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Sañjaya’s battlefield report, a warrior takes up a different, sturdier bow and, in high spirits, shoots Mādrī’s son with ten sharp arrows, intensifying the combat.