Shloka 49

भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः

Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed

Devanagari script

तथा भीष्मजये गृध्नु: सौमदत्तिस्तु पाण्डवम्‌ । कृतप्रतिकृते यत्ती योधयामासतू रणे

Transliteration

tathā bhīṣmajaye gṛdhnuḥ saumadattis tu pāṇḍavam | kṛtapratikṛte yattī yodhayām āsatū raṇe ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ସେହିପରି ସୋମଦତ୍ତପୁତ୍ର ଭୂରିଶ୍ରବା, ଭୀଷ୍ମଙ୍କ ବିଜୟ ପାଇଁ ଲୋଭୀ ହୋଇ, ପାଣ୍ଡବ (ଭୀମସେନ) ଉପରେ ପ୍ରହାର କଲେ। ପ୍ରତିକାର-ପ୍ରତିଘାତ କରିବାକୁ ଉଦ୍ୟତ ହୋଇ, ଦୁହେଁ ରଣଭୂମିରେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ କରି ଚାଲିଲେ—ଏକାପରେ ଏକର ଅସ୍ତ୍ରକୁ ପ୍ରତିହତ କରି, ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ଜନ୍ମାଉଥିବା ଅନିବାର୍ୟ ପ୍ରତିଶୋଧ-ଚକ୍ରରେ ବନ୍ଧା।

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा
• Form: Avyaya

• भीष्मजये: in Bhishma's victory
• भीष्मजये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्मजय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• गृध्नु: desirous, greedy for
• गृध्नु: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृध्नु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सौमदत्तिः: Saumadatti (Bhūrishravas)
• सौमदत्तिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौमदत्ति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु
• Form: Avyaya

• पाण्डवम्: the Pandava (Bhimasena)
• पाण्डवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कृतप्रतिकृते: in (the state of) requital made; in mutual counteraction
• कृतप्रतिकृते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत-प्रतिकृत
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• यत्ती: they strove/contended
• Type: Verb
• Root: यत्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd person, Dual

• योधयामासतुः: they fought (caused to fight) / they engaged in battle
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (णिच्) + आस्
• Form: Periphrastic perfect (Liṭ periphrastic), 3rd person, Dual

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• भीष्म (Bhīṣma)
• सौमदत्ति / भूरिश्रवा (Saumadatti / Bhūriśravā)
• सोमदत्त (Somadatta)
• पाण्डव (Pāṇḍava—here Bhīmasena)
• रण (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how allegiance to one’s side (seeking Bhīṣma’s victory) and the logic of retaliation (kṛta-pratikṛta) intensify conflict: in war, ethical intention is often narrowed to partisan duty, and violence tends to perpetuate itself through reciprocal striking and counter-striking.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Bhūriśravā (Saumadatti), motivated by the wish for Bhīṣma’s success, attacks the Pāṇḍava Bhīma. Both warriors engage in a close contest, repeatedly countering each other’s weapons and returning blows in the thick of battle.