Shloka 58

बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account

On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics

Devanagari script

असिवेगप्रभग्नास्ते छिन्नबाहूरुवक्षस:

Transliteration

asivegaprabhagnās te chinnabāhūruvakṣasaḥ

Translation

ಭೀಷ್ಮನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಖಡ್ಗದ ವೇಗದಿಂದ ಚೂರಾಗಿದ ಅವರು, ಕೈಗಳು, ತೊಡೆಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ವಕ್ಷಸ್ಥಲಗಳು ಕತ್ತರಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟು ನೆಲದ ಮೇಲೆ ಬಿದ್ದಿದ್ದರು.

Word by Word

• असि-वेग-प्रभग्नाः: broken/shattered by the force of the sword
• असि-वेग-प्रभग्नाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभग्न (प्र + √भञ्ज्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• छिन्न-बाहु-ऊरु-वक्षसः: with arms, thighs, and chests cut (off)
• छिन्न-बाहु-ऊरु-वक्षसः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्न (√छिद्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• sword (asi)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

By depicting bodies shattered and severed by sword-force, the verse highlights the harsh reality and moral gravity of violence, implicitly urging discernment, restraint, and reflection on the true cost of war even when framed within duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes the aftermath of sword-driven combat: fighters are struck down, their limbs and chests cut, conveying a battlefield scene of severe carnage.