Shloka 1

Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance

Devanagari script

/ [दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका इं श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ५४ ३ “लोक हैं।] न्च्स्स्त्सािस्सि ह्य ४2: «आर एकाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: अभिमन्युके द्वारा अलम्बुषकी पराजय

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | ārjuniṁ samare śūraṁ vini-ghnantaṁ mahārathān | alambuṣaḥ kathaṁ yuddhe pratyayudhyata sañjaya ||

Translation

ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର କହିଲେ—ସଞ୍ଜୟ! ସମରରେ ମହାରଥୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ସଂହାର କରୁଥିବା ଶୂର ଅର୍ଜୁନପୁତ୍ର ଅଭିମନ୍ୟୁଙ୍କ ବିରୋଧରେ ରାକ୍ଷସ ଅଲମ୍ବୁଷ କିପରି ପ୍ରତିଯୁଦ୍ଧ କଲା?

Word by Word

• धृतराष्ट्रः: Dhritarashtra
• धृतराष्ट्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अर्जुनिम्: the son of Arjuna (Abhimanyu)
• अर्जुनिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुनि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• शूरम्: heroic, brave
• शूरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विनिघ्नन्तम्: slaying, striking down
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-निघ्नत् (from धन्/हन् in sense 'to strike/kill')
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महारथान्: great chariot-warriors
• महारथान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अलम्बुषः: Alambusha
• अलम्बुषः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलम्बुष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कथम्: how
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• युद्धे: in the fight
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• प्रत्ययुध्यत: fought back, counter-fought
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-युध्
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• संजय: O Sanjaya
• संजय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संजय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Sañjaya
• Abhimanyu
• Arjuna
• Alambuṣa
• mahāratha (class of warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the epic’s ethical lens on warfare: valor is measured not merely by victory but by steadfast engagement in one’s duty (kṣatriya-dharma). Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s question also shows how the war’s moral and strategic significance is assessed through careful narration and accountability.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks Sañjaya to describe how Alambuṣa fought Abhimanyu, who is portrayed as a heroic warrior cutting down many great chariot-fighters. This introduces the episode focusing on Abhimanyu’s encounter with the rākṣasa Alambuṣa.