Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 32

Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions

Devanagari script

शरं चैव महाघोरं कालदण्डमिवापरम्‌

Transliteration

śaraṃ caiva mahāghoraṃ kāladaṇḍam ivāparam

Translation

サञ्जयは語った。さらに彼は、まことに凄絶な一矢を放った――それはまるで死神の杖がもう一本現れたかのようであった。

Word by Word

• शरम्: arrow
• शरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• महाघोरम्: very terrible
• महाघोरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाघोर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कालदण्डम्: the rod of Time (Yama's staff)
• कालदण्डम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालदण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अपरम्: another/second
• अपरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• śara (arrow)
• Kāla (Death/Time)
• daṇḍa (rod/staff of punishment)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the terrifying inevitability of death and consequence in war: once violence is unleashed, it can resemble the impartial ‘rod of Kāla,’ reminding readers that adharma-driven conflict invites inexorable suffering and karmic retribution.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Sañjaya’s battlefield narration, a warrior (contextually implied from surrounding verses) discharges an exceptionally fearsome arrow, compared to the punitive staff of Death/Time, signaling a lethal turning point in the combat.