Shloka 1

Adhyāya 74 (Book 6, Bhīṣma-parva): Bhīma–Duryodhana re-engagement and afternoon escalation

Devanagari script

अप्-#-रा+ एकसप्ततितमो< ध्याय: भीष्म

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmeṇa saṃsaktān bhrātṝn anyāṃś ca pārthivān | samabhyadhāvad gāṅgreyam udyatāstro dhanañjayaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Wahai Raja, melihat saudara-saudaranya serta raja-raja lain terjerat bertempur dengan Bhīṣma, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), dengan senjata terangkat, menyerbu terus ke arah Bhīṣma, putera Sungai Gaṅgā. Saat itu menampilkan tekad Arjuna untuk berhadapan dengan seorang tua yang sangat dihormati demi kewajipan perang, meskipun lawannya sarat beban moral dan emosi.

Word by Word

• संजयः: Sanjaya
• संजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage)

• भीष्मेण: by/with Bhishma
• भीष्मेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• संसक्तान्: engaged/entangled (in combat)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसक्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• भ्रातॄन्: brothers
• भ्रातॄन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अन्यान्: other
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• पार्थिवान्: kings
• पार्थिवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• समभ्यधावत्: ran up/charged
• Type: Verb
• Root: धाव्
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Singular

• गाङ्ग्रेयम्: the son of Ganga (Bhishma)
• गाङ्ग्रेयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाङ्ग्रेय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उद्यतास्त्रः: with weapon raised
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्यतास्त्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by 'O King')
• Bhīṣma
• Arjuna (Dhanañjaya)
• Gaṅgā (implied by epithet Gāṅgeya)
• Arjuna’s brothers (the Pāṇḍavas, implied)
• Other kings/rulers (pārthivāḥ)
• Weapons (astra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya tension between reverence for elders and the obligation to protect one’s side in a righteous battle. Arjuna’s act—raising weapons against Bhīṣma—illustrates that dharma in war can demand painful choices where personal affection yields to duty and the immediate protection of one’s allies.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to the king that Arjuna, seeing his brothers and other allied kings caught up in fierce fighting with Bhīṣma, readies his weapons and rushes to engage Bhīṣma directly, escalating the duel against the foremost Kaurava commander.