Mahabharata 6.117.4 — Bhishma Parva, Adhyaya 117, Shloka 4

Bhīṣma–Karṇa Saṃvāda on the Śaraśayyā (भीष्म–कर्ण संवादः शरशय्यायाम्)

Devanagari script

शरैरतिरथो युद्धे पीडयन्‌ वाहिनीं तव

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | śarair atiratho yuddhe pīḍayan vāhinīṃ tava, ekaikaṃ tribhir ānarcchat kaḍukabarhiṇavājitaiḥ |

Translation

సంజయుడు పలికెను—యుద్ధంలో ఆ అతిరథుడు నీ సేనను బాధింపజేస్తూ, కడుక పక్షి రెక్కలతో అలంకరించిన బాణాలతో ప్రతి యోధుని మూడు మూడు బాణాలతో గుచ్చెను; ఆ ఘోర ప్రహారాలతో నీ సేన కలవరపడెను.

Word by Word

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

• अतिरथः: the great chariot-warrior (Atiratha)
• अतिरथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिरथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• पीडयन्: afflicting, tormenting
• पीडयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पीड्
• Form: Present (participle), Singular

• वाहिनीम्: army, host
• वाहिनीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहिनी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• तव: your
• तव: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• एकैकम्: each one (individually)
• एकैकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकैक
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Numeral
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Instrumental, Plural

• आनर्च्छत्: he struck/caused to reach (hit)
• आनर्च्छत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ऋच्छ् (आ-)
• Form: Imperfect, 3, Singular

• कडुकबर्हिणवाजितैः: with arrows furnished with (kadūka?) peacock-feather-like vanes
• कडुकबर्हिणवाजितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कडुक-बर्हिण-वाजित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by 'tava')
• atiratha (elite warrior, unspecified in this pāda)
• vāhinī (army)
• śara (arrows)
• kaḍuka-barhiṇ (kaḍuka bird; feather source)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse primarily serves as battlefield reportage rather than direct moral instruction; implicitly it highlights the kṣatriya ideal of focused martial skill and the harsh reality that adharma-driven conflict results in widespread suffering for entire armies.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that an elite warrior is severely harassing the Kaurava host, striking opponents one by one with sets of three feather-fletched arrows, intensifying the pressure on Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s forces.