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Shloka 64

भीष्मशिबिरगमनम् — Duryodhana’s Visit to Bhīṣma’s Camp and the Command Appeal

चिच्छेद सर्वमर्मज्ञ: कामरूपो दुरासद: । तथा स राक्षसश्रेष्ठ: शरै: कृत्त: पुन: पुन:

ciccheda sarvamarmajñaḥ kāmarūpo durāsadaḥ | tathā sa rākṣasaśreṣṭhaḥ śaraiḥ kṛttaḥ punaḥ punaḥ ||

サンジャヤは言った。襲いかかる者は—急所のすべてを知り、意のままに姿を変え、打ち破りがたい—絶えず敵を断ち切った。だが羅刹の中の第一者もまた、矢の雨により幾度となく切り刻まれた。

चिच्छेदcut, severed
चिच्छेद:
TypeVerb
Rootछिद्
Formलिट् (परस्मैपद), perfect (past), 3rd, singular
सर्वमर्मज्ञःknower of all vital points
सर्वमर्मज्ञः:
Karta
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootसर्वमर्मज्ञ
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
कामरूपःable to assume forms at will
कामरूपः:
Karta
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootकामरूप
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
दुरासदःhard to approach/assail
दुरासदः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootदुरासद
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
तथाthus, in that manner
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
राक्षसश्रेष्ठःbest of the Rakshasas
राक्षसश्रेष्ठः:
Karta
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootराक्षसश्रेष्ठ
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
शरैःwith arrows
शरैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशर
Formmasculine, instrumental, plural
कृत्तःcut, hewn (down)
कृत्तः:
TypeVerb
Rootकृत् (√कृन्त्)
Formmasculine, nominative, singular, क्त (past passive participle)
पुनःagain
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः
पुनःagain (repeatedly)
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः

संजय उवाच

संजय (Sañjaya)
राक्षसश्रेष्ठ (a foremost rākṣasa)
शर (arrows)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the grim ethic of warfare: mastery lies in precise knowledge (marmas) and relentless effort, yet even the mighty and seemingly invincible are repeatedly brought down—suggesting the limits of brute power and the inexorability of consequences in battle.

Sañjaya describes a fierce combat scene in which a formidable, shape-shifting rākṣasa is repeatedly cut down by showers of arrows from an expert opponent who knows how to strike vital points.