Shloka 48

भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्

Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

अर्जुन: पञ्चविंशत्या भीष्ममार्च्छच्छितै: शरै:

Transliteration

arjunaḥ pañcaviṃśatyā bhīṣmam ārcchacchitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Translation

Санджая сказал: Арджуна двадцатью пятью стрелами поразил Бхишму — продвигая битву вперёд дисциплинированной силой против великого прародителя, главной опоры кауравов. Этот миг подчёркивает мрачную этику Курукшетры: даже самого почтенного следует противостоять, если он поддерживает неправое дело.

Word by Word

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पञ्चविंशत्या: with twenty-five (in number)
• पञ्चविंशत्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चविंशति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• भीष्मम्: Bhishma
• भीष्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आर्च्छच्छितैः: piercing / striking (him)
• आर्च्छच्छितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्च्छच्छित
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

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

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Bhīṣma
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the hard edge of dharma in war: personal reverence cannot override duty when an elder supports adharma. Arjuna’s measured, skillful assault symbolizes disciplined action performed for a larger moral obligation rather than personal hatred.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Arjuna shoots and hits Bhīṣma with twenty-five arrows during the Kurukṣetra battle, intensifying the combat against the Kauravas’ chief defender.