Shloka 77

कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९

Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces

Devanagari script

पश्य भीमेन नाराचैरभिन्ना नागा: पतन्त्यमी

Transliteration

paśya bhīmena nārācair abbhinnā nāgāḥ patanty amī

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: “Lihatlah—para pahlawan perkasa itu, dipanah dan dibelah oleh anak panah besi Bhīma, kini rebah berguguran.”

Word by Word

• पश्य: see! / behold!
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: लोट्, मध्यम, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्

• भीमेन: by Bhima
• भीमेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्

• नाराचैः: with iron arrows
• नाराचैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाराच
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्

• अभिन्नाः: split / pierced / shattered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिद्
• Form: क्त (भिन्न), अभि-, पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• नागाः: elephants
• नागाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• पतन्ति: are falling
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्
• Form: लट्, प्रथम, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्

• अमी: these (yonder)
• अमी: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अदस्
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīma
• nārāca (arrows)
• nāgāḥ (elephants / mighty warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the fragility of power and status in war: even the ‘nāgāḥ’—the strongest—fall when struck. It implicitly reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring ethical tension: martial excellence (kṣatriya-dharma) operates within a tragic field where life is swiftly undone.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma is shooting nārāca arrows, splitting and bringing down formidable opponents—likened to elephants—on the battlefield.