Shloka 42

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 103 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Gāndhārī Vivāha: Proposal, Consent, and the Vow

Devanagari script

ततो भीष्म शान्तनवं शरै: शतसहस््रश: । शाल्वराजो नरश्रेष्ठ; समवाकिरदाशुगै:,तदनन्तर मनुष्योंमें श्रेष्ठ राजा शाल्व शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मपर सैकड़ों और हजारों शीघ्रगामी बाणोंकी बौछार करने लगा

Transliteration

tato bhīṣmaṃ śāntanavaṃ śaraiḥ śata-sahasraśaḥ | śālvarājo naraśreṣṭhaḥ samavākirad āśugaiḥ ||

Translation

అనంతరం నరశ్రేష్ఠుడైన శాల్వరాజు శాంతనునందన భీష్మునిపై వందలూ వేలలూ వేగవంతమైన బాణాలను వర్షింపజేశాడు—అతనిని బాణాలతో కప్పివేసినట్లు.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

भीष्मम्Bhishma (as object)

शान्तनवम्son of Shantanu

शरैःwith arrows

शतसहस्रशःby hundreds and thousands; in hundreds of thousands

शाल्वराजःKing of Shalva

नरश्रेष्ठःbest of men

समवाकिरत्showered, covered (with a rain of arrows)

आशुगैःswift (ones), fast-moving

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīṣma

Śāntanu

Śālva

arrows (śara)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya-world ethic of steadfastness under assault: greatness is shown not only by striking but by enduring overwhelming force without losing resolve, a recurring Mahābhārata measure of martial and moral stamina.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that King Śālva launches a massive, rapid barrage of arrows at Bhīṣma (Śāntanu’s son), intensifying the combat by attempting to overwhelm him through sheer volume and speed of missiles.