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
एवमुक्ता महेष्वासास्ते वीराः क्षिप्रकारिणः। महता शरवर्षेण अभ्यधावन्नरिंदमम्॥
Word by Word
एवम्thus
एवम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम्
उक्ताःhaving been addressed/said to
उक्ताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवच्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural, kta (past passive participle)
महेष्वासाःgreat bowmen
महेष्वासाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहेष्वास
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तेthose
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
वीराःheroes
वीराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवीर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
क्षिप्रकारिणःquick-acting
क्षिप्रकारिणः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootक्षिप्रकारिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
महताwith great (force/amount)
महता:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
शरवर्षेणby a shower of arrows
शरवर्षेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशरवर्ष
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
अभ्यधावन्ran towards/charged
अभ्यधावन्:
TypeVerb
Rootधाव्
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada, अभि
अरिंदमम्the foe-subduer (enemy-tamer)
अरिंदमम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअरिंदम
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaB
BhūriśravāA
arrows (śara)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
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.
After being addressed, a group of great archers immediately charges and attacks Bhūriśravā, covering him with a heavy barrage of arrows.