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Shloka 4

Bhīṣma–Arjuna Strategic Engagement at Virāṭa’s Frontier (भीष्मार्जुनयुद्धम्)

महांक्षट्चटाशब्दो योधयोह्न्यमानयो: । दह्यतामिव वेणूनामासीत्‌ परपुरंजय,शत्रुविजयी जनमेजय! जब दोनों योद्धा एक दूसरेपर आघात करते, तब जलते हुए बाँसोंके चटखनेकी भाँति चटचट शब्द होने लगता था

mahāṁkṣaṭcaṭāśabdo yodhayor hanyamānayoḥ | dahyatām iva veṇūnām āsīt parapuraṁjaya, śatravijayī janamejaya ||

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。敵の城邑を征する者、ジャナメージャヤよ! 二人の戦士が互いに打ち合うたび、燃える竹がはぜるような激しいパチパチという音が起こった。武器の衝突は凄烈に鳴り響き、戦の容赦なき力が途切れぬことを告げていた。

महान्great
महान्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
चटाशब्दःa crackling ‘chat’ sound
चटाशब्दः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootचटाशब्द
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
योद्धयोःof the two warriors
योद्धयोः:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootयोद्धृ
FormMasculine, Genitive, Dual
अभिहन्यमानयोःwhile being struck/assailed (each other)
अभिहन्यमानयोः:
Adhikarana
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-हन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Dual, शानच् (present passive participle), Passive
दह्यताम्of (two) being burnt
दह्यताम्:
TypeVerb
Rootदह्
FormPresent, Passive, Third, Dual
इवas/like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
वेणूनाम्of bamboos
वेणूनाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवेणु
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
आसीत्was/arose
आसीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormImperfect, Parasmaipada, Third, Singular
परपुरंजयO conqueror of enemy cities
परपुरंजय:
TypeNoun
Rootपरपुरंजय
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
शत्रुविजयीO victor over enemies
शत्रुविजयी:
TypeAdjective
Rootशत्रुविजयिन्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
जनमेजयO Janamejaya
जनमेजय:
TypeNoun
Rootजनमेजय
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
J
Janamejaya
T
two warriors (unnamed in this verse)
B
bamboo (veṇu)

Educational Q&A

The verse primarily heightens the ethical-narrative mood of kṣatriya combat: battle is portrayed as intense and consuming, where the clash of weapons is likened to burning bamboo—suggesting both ferocity and the destructive momentum that warfare unleashes.

Two warriors are engaged in close combat, striking each other repeatedly. The narrator describes the sound of their blows as a sharp crackling, comparable to the snapping noise of bamboos burning, while addressing King Janamejaya with honorific epithets.