Shloka 20

भीष्मस्य शरवर्षः — Bhīṣma’s Arrow-Storm and Kṛṣṇa’s Impulse to Intervene

Devanagari script

वयं प्रतिनदन्तस्तानगच्छाम त्वरान्विता: । सहसैवाभिसंक्रुद्धास्तदा55सीत्‌ तुमुलं महत्‌

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | vayaṃ pratinadantas tān agacchāma tvarānvitāḥ | sahasaivābhisaṃkruddhās tadā āsīt tumulaṃ mahat ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ତାଙ୍କର ଗର୍ଜନାକୁ ପ୍ରତିଗର୍ଜନା କରି ଆମେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ତ୍ୱରାରେ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ଦିଗକୁ ଧାଇଗଲୁ। ମୁହୂର୍ତ୍ତମାତ୍ରେ କ୍ରୋଧେ ଉନ୍ମତ୍ତ ହୋଇ ଉଭୟ ପକ୍ଷରେ ଭୟଙ୍କର ତୁମୁଳ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ଆରମ୍ଭ ହେଲା।

Word by Word

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Plural

• प्रतिनदन्तः: roaring back, responding with a roar
• प्रतिनदन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रतिनद् (धातु: नद्) / प्रतिनदन्त्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अगच्छाम: we went / we advanced
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 1st, Plural

• त्वरान्विताः: endowed with haste, in great hurry
• त्वरान्विताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वरा + अन्वित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सहसा: suddenly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा

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

• अभिसंक्रुद्धाः: highly enraged
• अभिसंक्रुद्धाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + सम् + क्रुध् / अभिसंक्रुद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• आसीत्: there was
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

• तुमुलम्: tumultuous, dreadful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुमुल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• महत्: great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kaurava army (implied by 'we')
• Opposing army (Pandava side implied by 'them')
• Battlefield clash (tumultuous battle)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how quickly conflict intensifies when anger and pride answer provocation with provocation; ethical restraint is difficult in war, and reciprocal aggression turns tension into a ‘tumultuous’ catastrophe.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that their side, shouting back in response to the enemy’s cries, hurried forward and attacked; the encounter immediately becomes a great, chaotic battle between the two armies.