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Shloka 39

Adhyāya 74 (Book 6, Bhīṣma-parva): Bhīma–Duryodhana re-engagement and afternoon escalation

नागराजोपमैहस्तैनगिराक्षिप्य संयुगे | व्यदृश्यन्त महाराज सम्भग्ना रथकूबरा:

nāgarājopamaiḥ hastair nagirākṣipya saṁyuge | vyadṛśyanta mahārāja sambhagnā rathakūbarāḥ ||

మహారాజా! సంగ్రామంలో నాగరాజుని పోలిన బలమైన చేతులతో వారు రథాలను పట్టి పైకి ఎత్తి విసిరేవారు; అనేక రథాల కూబరాలు విరిగి పగిలి కనిపించేవి.

नागराजोपमैःwith (hands) comparable to serpent-kings
नागराजोपमैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootनागराजोपम
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
हस्तैःwith hands
हस्तैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootहस्त
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
नगिरान्mountains
नगिरान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनगिर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
आक्षिप्यhaving hurled / having thrown
आक्षिप्य:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-क्षिप्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)
संयुगेin battle
संयुगे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसंयुग
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
व्यदृश्यन्तwere seen / appeared
व्यदृश्यन्त:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-दृश्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Ātmanepada
महाराजO great king
महाराज:
TypeNoun
Rootमहाराज
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
सम्भग्नाःbroken / shattered
सम्भग्नाः:
TypeAdjective
Rootसम्-भञ्ज्
Formक्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural
रथकूबराःchariot-poles (chariot-shafts)
रथकूबराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootरथकूबर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra
R
ratha (chariot)
R
rathakūbara (chariot-pole/drawbar)
N
nāgarāja (serpent-king, as a simile)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how war, even when framed as kṣatriya duty, manifests as tangible devastation—broken chariots and ruined instruments—inviting reflection on the ethical weight and consequences of violence.

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that in the battle warriors of immense strength seized and hurled chariots, and many chariot-poles were seen shattered on the battlefield.