Mahabharata 9.26.20 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 26, Shloka 20

Śalya-parva Adhyāya 26 — Duryodhana’s remnant formation and rapid engagements

Devanagari script

भल्लेन पातयामास भीमो दुर्विषहं रणे । स पपात हतो वाहात्‌ पश्यतां सर्वधन्विनाम्‌

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | bhallena pātayāmāsa bhīmo durviṣahaṃ raṇe | sa papāta hato vāhāt paśyatāṃ sarvadhanvinām |

Translation

Санджая сказал: В самой гуще битвы Бхима поразил Дурвишаху стрелой «бхалла» и поверг его. От того удара Дурвишаха, раненный, свалился со своего ездового/колесницы на глазах у всех лучников. Эта картина подчёркивает беспощадную и публичную окончательность кшатрийской войны, где доблесть и расплата совершаются перед строем собравшихся воинов.

Word by Word

• भल्लेन: with an arrow (bhalla)
• भल्लेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भल्ल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• पातयामास: caused to fall; felled
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (पातयति, caus.)
• Form: Perfect (periphrastic), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भीमः: Bhima
• भीमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दुर्विषहं: Durviṣaha
• दुर्विषहं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्विषह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (स)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पपात: fell
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• हतः: slain; struck down
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (हत, past passive participle)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वाहात्: from the chariot/vehicle
• वाहात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाह
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• पश्यताम्: of (those) watching
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश् (पश्यत्, pres. act. participle)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• सर्वधन्विनाम्: of all archers
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वधन्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Bhima (Bhimasena)
• Durviṣaha
• bhalla (arrow)
• battlefield (raṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya world of the Mahābhārata: deeds in war carry immediate, visible consequences, and valor is tested under public scrutiny. It also reflects the epic’s ethical tension—heroism and duty in battle coexist with the tragedy of kin-slaying.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports that Bhima strikes Durviṣaha with a bhalla-arrow, causing him to fall from his conveyance (commonly understood as his chariot) in the sight of all the archers on the battlefield.