Shloka 34

भीष्मवधोपाय-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into the means to overcome Bhīṣma) | Chapter 103

Devanagari script

ततः शरसहसैस्तां पाण्डवानां महाचमूम्‌ । व्यद्रावयद्‌ रणे रक्षो दर्शयन्‌ स्वपराक्रमम्‌

Transliteration

tataḥ śara-sahasrais tāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahā-camūṃ vyadrāvayad raṇe rakṣo darśayan sva-parākramam

Translation

Санджая сказал: Затем, в самой гуще боя, тот ракшаса, являя свою доблесть, начал тысячами стрел обращать в бегство великое войско Пандавов.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: indeclinable (ablatival adverb: 'from that/then')

• शर-सहसैः: with thousands of arrows
• शर-सहसैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर-सहस
• Form: neuter, instrumental, plural

• ताम्: that (her/it)
• ताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• पाण्डवानाम्: of the Pandavas
• पाण्डवानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• महा-चमूम्: the great army
• महा-चमूम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-चमू
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• व्यद्रावयत्: drove away / routed
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (द्रावयति, caus.)
• Form: imperfect (laṅ), causative, parasmaipada, 3rd person, singular

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• रक्षः: the Rakshasa (demon)
• रक्षः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस्
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• दर्शयन्: showing
• दर्शयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (दर्शयति, caus.)
• Form: present active participle, causative, masculine, nominative, singular

• स्व-पराक्रमम्: his own prowess
• स्व-पराक्रमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-पराक्रम
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pāṇḍavas
• rākṣasa
• battlefield (raṇa)
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the disruptive force of sheer martial prowess on the battlefield and implicitly contrasts power with dharma: even a righteous army can be shaken by fear and confusion, so steadfastness, discipline, and adherence to duty are essential when confronted by overwhelming violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a rākṣasa warrior, demonstrating his valor, showers the Pāṇḍava forces with thousands of arrows and begins to rout their large army in the battle.