Shloka 573

भित्त्वा प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठो विदेहासूनपातयत्‌ । प्रहार करनेवाले योद्धाओंमें श्रेष्ठ पाण्डय अपने तीखे बाणोंसे हाथी, घोड़े और मनुष्योंके शरीरोंको विदीर्ण करके उन्हें देह और प्राणोंसे शून्य एवं धराशायी कर देते थे

bhittvā praharatāṃ śreṣṭho videhāsūn apātayat |

പ്രഹരിക്കുന്നവരിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ പാണ്ഡ്യൻ തന്റെ മൂർച്ചയുള്ള അമ്പുകളാൽ ആന, കുതിര, മനുഷ്യൻ എന്നിവരുടെ ശരീരങ്ങൾ തുളച്ച്, ദേഹവും പ്രാണവും നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടവരാക്കി ഭൂമിയിൽ വീഴ്ത്തുകയായിരുന്നു।

भित्त्वाhaving split/pierced
भित्त्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootभिद्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि, non-finite
प्रहरताम्of those who are striking/attacking
प्रहरताम्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-हृ (प्रहरति)
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
श्रेष्ठःthe best, foremost
श्रेष्ठः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विदेहान्the Videhas (people of Videha)
विदेहान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootविदेह
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
असून्breaths, lives
असून्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअसु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अपातयत्caused to fall, felled
अपातयत्:
TypeVerb
Rootपत् (अप- + पत्)
Formलङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, Third, Singular, कर्तरि

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
E
elephants
H
horses
M
men
A
arrows

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the harsh ethical tension of dharma in war: martial excellence and steadfast performance of a warrior’s role can coexist with immense suffering. It invites reflection on how duty (svadharma) in a righteous cause still carries tragic human cost.

Sañjaya describes a powerful warrior on the battlefield who, with sharp arrows, pierces and kills elephants, horses, and human fighters, felling them lifeless to the ground—an image of intense combat and overwhelming prowess.