Shloka 1

Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

अपन करा बछ। अर 2 चतु:षष्टितमो<5 ध्याय: भीमसेन और घटोत्कचका पराक्रम

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | tato bhūriśravā rājan sātyakiṁ navaśiḥ śaraiḥ | prāvidhyad bhṛśa-saṁkruddhas totrair iva mahādvipam ||

Translation

ਸੰਜਯ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਹੇ ਰਾਜਨ! ਤਦ ਭੂਰੀਸ਼੍ਰਵਾ ਭਿਆਨਕ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਆ ਕੇ ਸਾਤ੍ਯਕੀ ਨੂੰ ਨੌਂ ਤੀਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਇਉਂ ਵਿੰਨ੍ਹ ਗਿਆ, ਜਿਵੇਂ ਮਹਾਂ ਹਾਥੀ ਨੂੰ ਅੰਕੁਸ਼ਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਹੰਕਾਇਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• संजयः: Sanjaya
• संजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• भूरिश्रवाः: Bhūrishravas
• भूरिश्रवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूरिश्रवस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सात्यकिम्: Sātyaki
• सात्यकिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्यकि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नवभिः: with nine
• नवभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• प्राविध्यत्: pierced, struck
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• संक्रुद्धः: enraged
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संक्रुद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तोत्रैः: with goads
• तोत्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोत्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• इव: like, as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• महाद्विपम्: a great elephant
• महाद्विपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाद्विप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Bhūriśravas
• Sātyaki
• arrows (śara)
• elephant-goad/ankusha (totra)
• great elephant (mahādvipa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how intense anger (krodha) can drive a warrior to harsher action; even within kṣatriya duty, wrath escalates violence and clouds restraint, a recurring ethical concern in the Mahābhārata.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhūriśravas, enraged, shoots and pierces Sātyaki with nine arrows, comparing the assault to prodding a mighty elephant with hooks.