Shloka 11

दुःशासनवधः (Duḥśāsana-vadha) — Bhīma’s vow-fulfillment in combat

Devanagari script

न शेकुर्यन्तवन्तो5पि राधेयं प्रतिवीक्षितुम्‌ । वे सब महारथी प्रयत्नपूर्वक बाणसमूहोंकी वर्षा और तोमरोंका प्रहार करते हुए भी राधापुत्रको देख न सके ।। तांश्व सर्वान्‌ महेष्वासान्‌ सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपारग:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | na śekur yantavanto 'pi rādheyaṃ prativīkṣitum | te sarve mahārathī prayatnapūrvakaṃ bāṇasamūhānāṃ varṣaṃ tomaraprahāraṃ ca kurvāṇā api rādhāputraṃ draṣṭuṃ na śekuḥ || tāṃś ca sarvān maheṣvāsān sarvaśastrāstrapāragaḥ ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ସେମାନେ ଯେତେ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ରାଧେୟଙ୍କୁ ଦେଖିବାକୁ ସମର୍ଥ ହେଲେ ନାହିଁ। ସେ ସମସ୍ତ ମହାରଥୀ ଶରସମୂହର ବର୍ଷା ଓ ତୋମରପ୍ରହାର କରୁଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ରାଧାପୁତ୍ର ତାଙ୍କ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିଗୋଚର ହେଲେ ନାହିଁ। ଏବଂ ସେ—ସମସ୍ତ ଶସ୍ତ୍ରାସ୍ତ୍ରରେ ପାରଙ୍ଗତ—ସେମାନଙ୍କ ସମସ୍ତ ମହାଧନୁର୍ଧରଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମୁଖେ ଅବିଚଳ ଭାବେ ଦଢ଼ ହୋଇ ରହିଲେ।

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• शेकुः: were able
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक्
• Form: LiT, perfect (past), 3, plural, Parasmaipada

• यन्तवन्तः: striving/endeavouring (men)
• यन्तवन्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यन्तवत्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• राधेयम्: Radheya (Karna)
• राधेयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधेय
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• प्रतिवीक्षितुम्: to look at/see
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-वि-ईक्ष्
• Form: tumun (infinitive), Parasmaipada (usage)

• तान्: those (them)
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

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

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• महेष्वासान्: great bowmen
• महेष्वासान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपारगः: one who has mastered all weapons and missiles
• सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपारगः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-शस्त्र-अस्त्र-पारग
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Radheya (Karna)
• mahārathas (great chariot-warriors)
• bāṇas (arrows)
• tomara (spear/javelin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how sheer martial effort and weaponry do not guarantee success; in the Mahabharata’s ethical frame, prowess, confidence, and the momentum of fate can render even elite warriors ineffective. It also underscores the ideal of complete mastery (sarva-śastra-astra-pāraga) as a defining trait of a great warrior.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya describes a moment in the battle where multiple top-tier warriors attack Karna with intense volleys of arrows and spear-strikes, yet they cannot even properly perceive or fix their gaze on him—suggesting Karna’s overwhelming dominance, speed, or tactical superiority as he confronts them.