Shloka 10

Bhīṣma-nipāta-saṃvāda — Sañjaya’s Report of Bhīṣma’s Fall (भीष्मनिपातसंवादः)

Devanagari script

निकृन्तन्तमनीकानि शरदंष्टं मनस्विनम्‌ । चापव्यात्ताननं घोरमसिजिह्ठलं दुरासदम्‌

Transliteration

nikṛntantam anīkāni śarad-aṃṣṭraṃ manasvinam | cāpa-vyāttānanaṃ ghoraṃ asi-jihvalaṃ durāsadam ||

Translation

ధృతరాష్ట్రుడు పలికెను—నేను అతన్ని వ్యూహాలను నరికివేస్తూ చూశాను—శరదృతువులో దంతాలు పదునైన క్రూర మృగంలా. అతడు మనోధైర్యవంతుడు, దృఢనిశ్చయుడు; భయంకరుడు—ధనుస్సు బిగించి నోరు విప్పినట్లుగా నిలిచి, ఖడ్గం అగ్ని జిహ్వలా మెరుస్తూ—అతని సమీపానికి చేరడం అత్యంత దుర్లభం.

Word by Word

• निकृन्तन्तम्: cutting down, hewing
• निकृन्तन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√कृत्
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अनीकानि: armies, battle-formations
• अनीकानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• शरदंष्टम्: whose fangs are arrows (arrow-fanged)
• शरदंष्टम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर-दंष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मनस्विनम्: high-spirited, resolute
• मनस्विनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चापव्यात्ताननम्: with mouth wide (as) a bow (bow-wide-mouthed)
• चापव्यात्ताननम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चाप-व्याप्त-आनन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• घोरम्: terrible, dreadful
• घोरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• असिजिह्वलम्: having a sword-like tongue
• असिजिह्वलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असि-जिह्वल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दुरासदम्: hard to approach, unassailable
• दुरासदम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्-आसद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• bow (cāpa)
• sword (asi)
• battle-formations/armies (anīkāni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the double-edged nature of martial excellence: valor and steadfastness are admired within kṣatriya-dharma, yet the same power becomes terrifying when it destroys multitudes. It invites reflection on how dharma in war can coexist with the moral weight of violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra is hearing/recalling a vivid battlefield portrayal of a formidable warrior who is cutting through enemy formations. The imagery—autumn-fanged, gaping-mouthed with bow, sword flashing like a tongue—emphasizes unstoppable momentum and the fear he inspires.