Shloka 39

भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः

Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed

Devanagari script

भीमसेनसुतं चापि दुर्मुख: सुमुखै: शरैः । षष्ट्या वीरो नदन्‌ हृष्टो विव्याध रणमूर्थनि

Transliteration

bhīmasenasutaṃ cāpi durmukhaḥ sumukhaiḥ śaraiḥ | ṣaṣṭyā vīro nadan hṛṣṭo vivyādha raṇamūrdhani ||

Translation

मग वीर दुर्मुख आनंदाने गर्जना करत, रणाच्या अग्रभागी, भीमसेनपुत्र घटोत्कचाला तीक्ष्ण टोकांच्या साठ बाणांनी भेदून टाकू लागला।

Word by Word

• भीमसेनसुतम्: Bhimasena's son (Ghaṭotkaca)
• भीमसेनसुतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन-सुत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• दुर्मुखः: Durmukha (a warrior)
• दुर्मुखः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्मुख
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुमुखैः: with sharp-pointed / well-faced (arrows)
• सुमुखैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमुख
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• षष्ट्या: with sixty (i.e., by a set of sixty)
• षष्ट्या: Karana
• Type: Noun (numeral)
• Root: षष्टि
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• वीरः: the hero
• वीरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नदन्: roaring / shouting
• Type: Verb
• Root: नद्
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हृष्टः: delighted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट
• Form: Past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विव्याध: pierced
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• रणमूर्धनि: on the battlefield-front / at the head of battle
• रणमूर्धनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण-मूर्धन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Durmukha
• Bhīmasena
• Ghaṭotkaca
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the uncompromising momentum of dharma-yuddha as understood by warriors: once battle is joined, courage, skill, and resolve are tested at the front line, and personal ties do not halt the harsh duties of combat.

What is happening in the narrative?

Durmukha, a Kaurava fighter, joyfully roars and shoots sixty arrows at Ghaṭotkaca, Bhīma’s son, wounding him at the very forefront of the battlefield.