Shloka 23

Bhīṣma–Karṇa Saṃvāda on the Śaraśayyā (भीष्म–कर्ण संवादः शरशय्यायाम्)

Devanagari script

ततो भीमो महेष्वास: फाल्गुनश्न महारथ: । कौरवाणां चमूं घोरां भृशं दुद्रुवतू रणे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | tato bhīmo maheṣvāsaḥ phālgunaś ca mahārathaḥ | kauravāṇāṃ camūṃ ghorāṃ bhṛśaṃ dudruvatuḥ raṇe | ekaikaṃ tribhir ānarcchet kaṅkabarhiṇavājitaiḥ |

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ତା’ପରେ ମହାଧନୁର୍ଧର ଭୀମସେନ ଓ ମହାରଥୀ ଫାଲ୍ଗୁନ (ଅର୍ଜୁନ) ରଣକ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ କୌରବମାନଙ୍କ ସେଇ ଭୟଙ୍କର ସେନାକୁ ବଳପୂର୍ବକ ଖେଦାଇବାକୁ ଲାଗିଲେ। ଗିଧର ପାଖ ଲଗା ତିନି-ତିନି ବାଣରେ ଶତ୍ରୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ବିଦ୍ଧ କରି ତୀବ୍ର ପୀଡ଼ା ଦେଇ, ସେମାନଙ୍କ ଗତି ଭାଙ୍ଗିଦେଲେ; ଏଭଳି ଭାବେ ସେଇ ଦୁର୍ଦାନ୍ତ କୌରବସେନା ପଛକୁ ହଟିବା ଆରମ୍ଭ କଲା।

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• भीमः: Bhima
• भीमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महेष्वासः: great bowman
• महेष्वासः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• फाल्गुनः: Phalguna (Arjuna)
• फाल्गुनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: फाल्गुन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• महारथः: great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कौरवाणाम्: of the Kauravas
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• चमूम्: army
• चमूम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चमू
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• घोराम्: terrible
• घोराम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• भृशम्: violently, greatly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम्

• दुद्रुवतुः: the two drove/put to flight
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Dual

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

• एकैकम्: each one (individually)
• एकैकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकैक
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• आनर्च्छत्: he struck/attacked (lit. reached upon)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ऋच्छ्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Singular

• कडुकबर्हिणवाजितैः: with arrows furnished with (eagle-)feathers (as wings)
• कडुकबर्हिणवाजितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कडुक-बर्हिण-वाजित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīma
• Phālguna (Arjuna)
• Kauravas
• camū (army)
• raṇa (battlefield)
• arrows with vulture-feather fletching (kaṅkabarhiṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds kṣatriya-dharma in action: disciplined strength and coordinated effort can check a larger force. Ethically, it illustrates how resolve and skill, when aligned with a just cause in the epic’s framing, can turn the tide against an oppressive host.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Bhīma and Arjuna press hard against the Kaurava formation, striking opponents with triple-arrow volleys and driving the army back on the battlefield, initiating a rout of the Kaurava troops in that phase of the fight.