Shloka 15

भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्

Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

पजञ्चालान्‌ निहनिष्यन्ति रक्षिता दृढ्धन्वना । सो<हं भीष्म वधिष्यामि सैन्यहेतोर्जनार्दन

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | pañcālān nihaniṣyanti rakṣitā dṛḍha-dhanvanā | so ’haṃ bhīṣmaṃ vadhiṣyāmi sainya-hetoḥ janārdana ||

Translation

സഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ദൃഢധനുസ്സുള്ള പിതാമഹൻ ഭീഷ്മന്റെ സംരക്ഷണത്തിൽ അവർ പാഞ്ചാലരെ സംഹരിക്കും. അതിനാൽ സൈന്യത്തിന്റെ രക്ഷയ്ക്കായി, ഹേ ജനാർദന, ഞാൻ ഭീഷ്മനെ വധിക്കും.

Word by Word

• पञ्चालान्: the Pāñcālas
• पञ्चालान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चाल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• निहनिष्यन्ति: will slay
• निहनिष्यन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (नि + हन्)
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• रक्षिताः: protected (ones)
• रक्षिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ष् (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• दृढधन्वना: by the firm-bowed one (i.e., Bhīṣma)
• दृढधन्वना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढधन्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सः: he / that (one)
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• भीष्मम्: Bhīṣma
• भीष्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वधिष्यामि: I will slay
• वधिष्यामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (वध्/वधय् causative sense in usage; here future of √हन् with वध- stem)
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सैन्यहेतोः: for the sake of the army
• सैन्यहेतोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्यहेतु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• जनार्दन: O Janārdana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pañcālas
• Bhīṣma
• Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a hard ethical choice in war: when a single, overwhelmingly powerful protector enables large-scale destruction, leaders may feel compelled to neutralize that protector for the greater protection of their forces. It highlights kṣatriya-duty logic—prioritizing the safety of one’s army and allies—even when it entails confronting a revered elder like Bhīṣma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports a resolve addressed to Kṛṣṇa (Janārdana): the Pañcālas are in danger of being slaughtered under the protection of a formidable archer (understood as Bhīṣma). Therefore, the speaker declares an intention to bring about Bhīṣma’s death for the sake of protecting the army.