Shloka 18

भीष्मस्य मध्याह्नयुद्धवर्णनम् / Mid-day Battle Description: Bhīṣma Engaged by the Pāñcālas

Devanagari script

हार्दिक्यो बाह्लिकश्चैव सात्यकिं समभिद्रुतौ । अम्बष्ठकस्तु नृपतिरभिमन्युमवस्थित:,कृतवर्मा और बाह्नलीक सात्यकिपर टूट पड़े। राजा अम्बष्ठने अभिमन्युका सामना किया

Transliteration

sanjaya uvāca |

hārdikyo bāhlikaś caiva sātyakiṃ samabhidrutau |

ambaṣṭhakas tu nṛpatir abhimanyum avasthitaḥ ||

Translation

హృదీకపుత్రుడు కృతవర్ముడు మరియు రాజు బాహ్లికుడు—ఇద్దరూ—సాత్యకిపై నేరుగా దూసుకొచ్చారు. అంబష్ఠుల రాజు మాత్రం అభిమన్యువును ఎదుర్కొనేందుకు నిలిచాడు.

Word by Word

हार्दिक्यःHārdikya (Kṛtavarman)

बाह्लिकःBāhlika

चand

एवindeed/just

सात्यकिम्Sātyaki

समभिद्रुतौthey rushed/charged at

अम्बष्ठकःAmbashṭhaka

तुbut

नृपतिःthe king

अभिमन्युम्Abhimanyu

अवस्थितःstood facing / took position against

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sanjaya

Krtavarma (Hardikya)

Bahlika

Satyaki (Yuyudhana)

Ambasthaka (king of the Ambasthas)

Abhimanyu

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

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya code in wartime: warriors deliberately meet strong opponents, acting from allegiance and duty to their side. Ethically, it reflects how dharma in battle can demand steadfastness and courage even amid destructive conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports two simultaneous engagements: Kṛtavarmā and Bāhlika charge together at Sātyaki, while the Ambaṣṭha king positions himself to face Abhimanyu in direct combat.