Shloka 21

भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्

Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

त्रासयन्तं रणे शूरान्‌ मर्दयन्तं च सायकै: । सैन्धवप्रमुखैर्गुप्त: प्राव्यसौवीरकेकयै:

Transliteration

trāsayantaṃ raṇe śūrān mardayantaṃ ca sāyakaiḥ | saindhavapramukhair guptaḥ prāvyasauvīrakekayaiḥ ||

Translation

Disse Sañjaya: No auge da batalha, ele aterrorizava os valentes e os esmagava com saraivadas de flechas; contudo era protegido pelo príncipe do Sindhu (Jayadratha) à frente, juntamente com os Prāvyas, os Sauvīras e os Kekayas.

Word by Word

• त्रासयन्तम्: frightening
• त्रासयन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रासयत् (√त्रस्)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी/कर्तरि प्रयोग, पुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: पुं, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• शूरान्: heroes/warriors
• शूरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: पुं, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मर्दयन्तम्: crushing/overpowering
• मर्दयन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: मर्दयत् (√मृद्/मर्द्)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी/कर्तरि प्रयोग, पुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• सायकैः: with arrows
• सायकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक
• Form: पुं, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सैन्धवप्रमुखैः: with those headed by the Sindhava (Jayadratha)
• सैन्धवप्रमुखैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सैन्धव-प्रमुख
• Form: पुं, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• गुप्तः: protected/guarded
• गुप्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्त (√गुप्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्राव्य: having protected/after protecting
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + अव (√अव)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• सौवीरकेकयैः: by the Sauviras and Kekayas
• सौवीरकेकयैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौवीर-केकय
• Form: पुं, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Saindhava (Jayadratha, Sindhu prince)
• Prāvyas
• Sauvīras
• Kekayas
• arrows (sāyaka)
• battlefield (raṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that battlefield success is not merely individual valor; it depends on collective protection and coordinated alliances. Ethically, it reflects the kshatriya world where duty includes both striking the enemy and safeguarding one’s own—power is exercised within a network of obligations.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a warrior who is frightening and overpowering heroes with arrows, while being guarded by Jayadratha (the Sindhu prince) and allied contingents—Prāvyas, Sauvīras, and Kekayas—indicating a protected formation around him during the fight.