Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

उत्सृज्य च महाबाहुद्रोंणपुत्रं धनंजय: । अभिदु॒द्राव सहसा कर्णमेव सपत्नजित्‌,तब शत्रुविजयी महाबाहु धनंजयने द्रोणपुत्रको वहीं छोड़कर सहसा कर्णपर ही धावा किया

Transliteration

utsṛjya ca mahābāhu-droṇaputraṁ dhanañjayaḥ | abhidudrāva sahasā karṇam eva sapatnajit ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ സപത്നജിത് മഹാബാഹു ധനഞ്ജയൻ ദ്രോണപുത്രനെ വിട്ടുവെച്ച്, സഹസാ കർണ്ണനിലേക്കുതന്നെ പാഞ്ഞുകയറി।

Word by Word

• उत्सृज्य: having left/abandoned
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्सृज् (उत्+सृज्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), कर्तरि

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• महाबाहु-द्रोणपुत्रम्: Drona's son (Ashvatthaman), the mighty-armed (one)
• महाबाहु-द्रोणपुत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोणपुत्र (प्रातिपदिक); महाबाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धनंजयः: Dhananjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभिदुद्राव: ran towards/charged at
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (धातु) with अभि-
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सहसा: suddenly, impetuously
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा

• कर्णम्: Karna
• कर्णम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एव: indeed, only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• सपत्नजित्: conqueror of rivals
• सपत्नजित्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सपत्नजित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• Droṇaputra (Aśvatthāmā)
• Karṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores decisive action aligned with a warrior’s duty: in battle one must prioritize the most pressing threat and act without hesitation, while maintaining focus and courage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna stops engaging Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāmā) and immediately charges toward Karṇa, indicating a shift in target and battlefield priority.