Shloka 10

Bhīṣma-nipāta-saṃvāda — Sañjaya’s Report of Bhīṣma’s Fall (भीष्मनिपातसंवादः)

Devanagari script

निकृन्तन्तमनीकानि शरदंष्टं मनस्विनम्‌ । चापव्यात्ताननं घोरमसिजिह्ठलं दुरासदम्‌

Transliteration

nikṛntantam anīkāni śarad-aṃṣṭraṃ manasvinam | cāpa-vyāttānanaṃ ghoraṃ asi-jihvalaṃ durāsadam ||

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “(Aku melihatnya) dia menetak dan memancung formasi-formasi tempur—bagaikan binatang buas dengan taring musim luruh—bersemangat tinggi dan teguh tekad; menggerunkan dipandang, mulutnya ternganga dengan busur sudah ditarik, pedangnya berkilat seperti lidah api, dan amat sukar didekati.”

Word by Word

निकृन्तन्तम्cutting down, hewing

अनीकानिarmies, battle-formations

शरदंष्टम्whose fangs are arrows (arrow-fanged)

मनस्विनम्high-spirited, resolute

चापव्यात्ताननम्with mouth wide (as) a bow (bow-wide-mouthed)

घोरम्terrible, dreadful

असिजिह्वलम्having a sword-like tongue

दुरासदम्hard to approach, unassailable

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

bow (cāpa)

sword (asi)

battle-formations/armies (anīkāni)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the double-edged nature of martial excellence: valor and steadfastness are admired within kṣatriya-dharma, yet the same power becomes terrifying when it destroys multitudes. It invites reflection on how dharma in war can coexist with the moral weight of violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra is hearing/recalling a vivid battlefield portrayal of a formidable warrior who is cutting through enemy formations. The imagery—autumn-fanged, gaping-mouthed with bow, sword flashing like a tongue—emphasizes unstoppable momentum and the fear he inspires.