Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 11

भीष्मस्य अप्रतिमपराक्रमः — शिखण्डिपुरस्कृतः प्रहारः

Bhīṣma’s unmatched momentum and the assault with Śikhaṇḍin in the lead

Devanagari script

तथैव नकुलं शूरं किरन्तं सायकान्‌ बहून्‌

Transliteration

tathaiva nakulaṃ śūraṃ kirantaṃ sāyakān bahūn

Translation

Санджая сказал: «Так же и Накула, доблестный воин, был виден, осыпая врагов множеством стрел и продолжая яростный обмен метательным оружием на поле брани.»

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in the same way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• नकुलम्: Nakula
• नकुलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शूरम्: heroic, brave
• शूरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• किरन्तम्: scattering, showering
• किरन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॄ (किरति)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)

• सायकान्: arrows
• सायकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• बहून्: many
• बहून्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Nakula
• arrows (sāyaka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores kṣatriya-dharma in practice: steadfast courage and disciplined martial action in the midst of battle, presented through Sañjaya’s impartial narration rather than moralizing.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Nakula, fighting bravely, is actively raining down a large number of arrows—indicating the intensity and continuity of the ongoing combat.