Shloka 27

अमोघशक्तिव्यंसनप्रश्नः — Why Karṇa’s Śakti Was Not Used on Arjuna

Devanagari script

स तथा पाण्डुपुत्रेण बलिनाभिहतो5पतत्‌ | त॑ निहत्य महाराज भीमसेनो महाबल:

Transliteration

sa tathā pāṇḍuputreṇa balinābhihato 'patat | taṁ nihatya mahārāja bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。そのようにパーンドゥの強き子に打たれて、彼は倒れ落ちた。王よ、これを討ち果たしたのち、比類なき力をもつビーマセーナは勝者として立っていた。

Word by Word

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

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• पाण्डु-पुत्रेण: by the son of Pāṇḍu
• पाण्डु-पुत्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डुपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• बलिना: by the strong (one)
• बलिना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अभिहतः: struck, smitten
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-हन्
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपतत्: fell down
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• निहत्य: having slain
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन्
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; ल्यप्), Parasmaipada sense

• महा-राज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• भीम-सेनः: Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• भीम-सेनः: Karta
• Type: ProperNoun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महा-बलः: mighty, very strong
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Pāṇḍuputra (a Pāṇḍava)
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by 'mahārāja')

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the grim ethic of kṣatriya warfare: once battle is joined, decisive action and steadfastness are expected, even though the act of killing remains morally weighty. It reflects how duty in war can demand harsh outcomes without celebrating cruelty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to the king that an opponent, struck by the mighty Pāṇḍava Bhīma, collapses; Bhīmasena has slain him, marking a decisive moment in the ongoing battle.