Shloka 21

Devanagari script

शिखण्डिनं तु समरे भीष्ममृत्युं दुरासदम्‌

Transliteration

śikhaṇḍinaṃ tu samare bhīṣmamṛtyuṃ durāsadam

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。「だが戦場においてシカンディンこそ、近づき難きビーシュマの死をもたらす器であった。」

Word by Word

• शिखण्डिनम्: Śikhaṇḍin (as object)
• शिखण्डिनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

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

• भीष्ममृत्युम्: the death of Bhīṣma / Bhīṣma's death
• भीष्ममृत्युम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्ममृत्यु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दुरासदम्: hard to approach/assail
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरासद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śikhaṇḍin
• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that power in war is not merely physical; outcomes hinge on moral constraints, past causes, and strategic conditions—here, Śikhaṇḍin becomes the decisive factor connected with Bhīṣma’s destined end.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya identifies Śikhaṇḍin as the formidable battlefield presence associated with Bhīṣma’s death—pointing to Śikhaṇḍin’s crucial role in the circumstances that lead to Bhīṣma’s downfall.