Shloka 16

Adhyāya 8: Saṃprahāra-varṇana and Bhīma–Kṣemadhūrti Dvipa-Yuddha

Combat Description and Elephant Duel

Devanagari script

शार्ज़्गाण्डीवधन्चानौ सहितावपराजितौ । अहं दिव्याद्‌ रथादेक: पातयिष्यामि संयुगे

Transliteration

śārṅga-gāṇḍīva-dhanū cānau sahitāv aparājitau | ahaṃ divyād rathād ekaḥ pātayiṣyāmi saṃyuge ||

Translation

ସେ ଗର୍ବରେ କହୁଥିଲା—“ଶାର୍ଙ୍ଗଧାରୀ ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣ ଓ ଗାଣ୍ଡୀବଧାରୀ ଅର୍ଜୁନ—ସେଇ ଦୁଇ ଅପରାଜିତ ବୀର ଏକସାଥି ଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ, ମୁଁ ଏକା ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ଦିବ୍ୟ ରଥରୁ ପତିତ କରିଦେବି।”

Word by Word

• शार्ङ्ग: the bow Śārṅga
• शार्ङ्ग: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्ङ्ग
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• गाण्डीव: the bow Gāṇḍīva
• गाण्डीव: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीव
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धनुषी: two bows
• धनुषी: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Dual

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

• अनौ: two (persons)
• अनौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• सहितौ: together, united
• सहितौ: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• अपराजितौ: unconquered, undefeated
• अपराजितौ: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपराजित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• दिव्यात्: from the divine
• दिव्यात्: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• रथात्: from the chariot
• रथात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• एकः: alone
• एकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पातयिष्यामि: I will cause to fall / I will strike down
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), First, Singular, Parasmaipada, Indicative

• संयुगे: in battle
• संयुगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kṛṣṇa
• Arjuna
• Duryodhana
• Śārṅga (bow)
• Gāṇḍīva (bow)
• divya-ratha (divine chariot)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical danger of overconfidence and delusion in war: boasting against the protectors of dharma (Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna) reflects ambition-driven blindness, which in the Mahābhārata repeatedly leads to ruin rather than true heroism.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator reports a warrior’s claim—made to encourage Duryodhana—that he will single-handedly topple Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna together from their divine chariot, despite their reputation as unconquered and supremely armed with Śārṅga and Gāṇḍīva.