Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

ततस्ते भ्रातर: पड्च राक्षसेन्द्रं महाहवे । विव्यधुर्निशितैर्बाणैस्तपनीयवि भूषितै:,तदनन्तर उन पाँचों भाइयोंने उस महासमरमें सुवर्णभूषित तीक्ष्ण बाणोंद्वारा राक्षसराज अलम्बुषको क्षत-विक्षत कर दिया

Transliteration

tatas te bhrātaraḥ pañca rākṣasendraṃ mahāhave | vivyadhur niśitair bāṇais tapanīya-vibhūṣitaiḥ ||

Translation

Санджая сказал: Затем те пятеро братьев в великой сече пронзили владыку ракшасов острыми стрелами, украшенными золотом, нанеся ему тяжкие раны.

Word by Word

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

• ते: they (those)
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• भ्रातरः: brothers
• भ्रातरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• पञ्च: five
• Type: Numeral
• Root: पञ्च

• राक्षसेन्द्रम्: the lord/king of the Rakshasas
• राक्षसेन्द्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसेन्द्र
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• महाहवे: in the great battle
• महाहवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाहव
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• विव्यधुः: they pierced, struck
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: perfect (liṭ), third, plural, parasmaipada

• निशितैः: with sharp
• निशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• बाणैः: arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• तपनीयविभूषितैः: adorned with gold
• तपनीयविभूषितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपनीयविभूषित
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• the five brothers (Pāṇḍavas)
• Alambuṣa (rākṣasa)
• arrows (bāṇa)
• gold (tapanīya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya context of the epic: in a righteous war, coordinated resolve and disciplined martial action are portrayed as necessary, even when the outcome is violent. It also emphasizes unity—five brothers acting together against a powerful adversary.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the five Pāṇḍava brothers strike the rākṣasa-chief (Alambuṣa) in the thick of battle, piercing him with sharp, gold-adorned arrows and leaving him badly wounded.