Shloka 18

भीष्मस्य मण्डलव्यूहः — Bhīṣma’s Maṇḍala Battle-Formation and the Opening Engagements

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ता महेष्वासास्ते वीरा: क्षिप्रकारिण: । महता शरवर्षेण अभ्यधावन्नरिंदमम्‌

Transliteration

evam uktā maheṣvāsās te vīrāḥ kṣiprakāriṇaḥ | mahatā śaravarṣeṇa abhyadhāvann ariṃdamam bhūriśravāḥ ||

Translation

Санджая сказал: Так обращённые, те герои — великие лучники, быстрые на дело — ринулись вперёд, обрушив могучий дождь стрел, и набросились на Бхуришраву, сокрушителя врагов.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्ताः: having been addressed/said to
• उक्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, kta (past passive participle)

• महेष्वासाः: great bowmen
• महेष्वासाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: those
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वीराः: heroes
• वीराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• क्षिप्रकारिणः: quick-acting
• क्षिप्रकारिणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षिप्रकारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महता: with great (force/amount)
• महता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• शरवर्षेण: by a shower of arrows
• शरवर्षेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरवर्ष
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अभ्यधावन्: ran towards/charged
• Type: Verb
• Root: धाव्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada, अभि

• अरिंदमम्: the foe-subduer (enemy-tamer)
• अरिंदमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरिंदम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhūriśravā
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights promptness and resolve in action: once a directive or decision is given, warriors act swiftly and in unity. Ethically, it reflects the battlefield ideal of disciplined responsiveness within kṣatriya-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being addressed, a group of great archers immediately charges and attacks Bhūriśravā, covering him with a heavy barrage of arrows.