Shloka 34

Bhīṣma-nipāta-saṃvāda — Sañjaya’s Report of Bhīṣma’s Fall (भीष्मनिपातसंवादः)

Devanagari script

के<रक्षन्‌ दक्षिण चक्र भीष्मस्यामिततेजस: । पृष्ठतः के परान्‌ वीरानपासेधन्‌ यतव्रता:

Transliteration

ke rakṣan dakṣiṇaṃ cakraṃ bhīṣmasyāmitatejasaḥ | pṛṣṭhataḥ ke parān vīrān apāsedhan yatavratāḥ ||

Translation

ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର କହିଲେ—ଅମିତତେଜସ୍ବୀ ଭୀଷ୍ମଙ୍କ ରଥର ଦକ୍ଷିଣ ଚକ୍ରକୁ କିଏ ରକ୍ଷା କଲା? ଏବଂ ପଛେ ଥାଇ ଦୃଢ଼ବ୍ରତୀ କେଉଁ ବୀରମାନେ ଶତ୍ରୁପକ୍ଷର ବୀରମାନଙ୍କୁ ଆଗେ ବଢ଼ିବାରୁ ରୋକିଲେ?

Word by Word

• के: who (plural)
• के: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• अरक्षन्: protected
• अरक्षन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: imperfect (laṅ), 3rd, plural, parasmaipada

• दक्षिणम्: right (side)
• दक्षिणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• चक्रम्: wheel
• चक्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• भीष्मस्य: of Bhīṣma
• भीष्मस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• अमिततेजसः: of the one of immeasurable splendor
• अमिततेजसः: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमिततेजस्
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• पृष्ठतः: from behind/at the rear
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठतस्

• के: who (plural)
• के: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• परान्: enemy/other-side (warriors)
• परान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• वीरान्: heroes/warriors
• वीरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• अपासेधन्: kept back/warded off
• अपासेधन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + सिध्/सेध्
• Form: imperfect (laṅ), 3rd, plural, parasmaipada

• यतव्रताः: observing strict vows/discipline
• यतव्रताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यतव्रत
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Bhīṣma
• right wheel of Bhīṣma’s chariot
• enemy warriors (parāḥ vīrāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined duty in war: victory depends not only on a great commander like Bhīṣma but also on coordinated protection—guards at vulnerable points (the chariot wheel) and steadfast rear defense—showing how collective loyalty and restraint sustain a leader’s effectiveness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions Sañjaya about the battlefield arrangements around Bhīṣma: which warriors were assigned to protect the right wheel of his chariot and which disciplined fighters stayed behind to block the enemy’s heroes from advancing.