Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

राज्यार्ध पञज्च वा ग्रामान्‌ नाकार्षीत्‌ स च दुर्मति: । दृष्टवा हि क्षत्रियान्‌ शूरान्‌ शयानान्‌ धरणीतले

Transliteration

rājyārdhaṃ pañca vā grāmān nākārṣīt sa ca durmatiḥ | dṛṣṭvā hi kṣatriyān śūrān śayānān dharaṇītale ||

Translation

ఆ దుర్మతి రాజ్యార్ధాన్ని కూడా స్వీకరించలేదు, ఐదు గ్రామాలనైనా కాదు—భూమిపై పడి ఉన్న వీర క్షత్రియులను చూసిన తరువాత కూడా.

Word by Word

• राज्य: kingdom
• राज्य: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अर्धम्: half
• अर्धम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च
• Form: Indeclinable/Number, N/A, N/A

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• ग्रामान्: villages
• ग्रामान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अकार्षीत्: did/made (did not do)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Aorist (Luṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• दुर्मतिः: evil-minded (man)
• दुर्मतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्मति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• क्षत्रियान्: Kshatriyas/warriors
• क्षत्रियान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शूरान्: brave
• शूरान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शयानान्: lying (down)
• शयानान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शी
• Form: शानच् (present participle, Ātmanepada sense), Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• धरणीतले: on the surface of the earth/ground
• धरणीतले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणीतल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• kṣatriyas (warriors)
• villages (grāma)
• earth/ground (dharaṇītala)
• half-kingdom (rājyārdha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A central ethical point is the danger of durmati—perverted judgment driven by pride and greed. When a leader refuses even reasonable settlement (half the kingdom or even a few villages), the resulting war brings widespread death; the verse highlights moral responsibility for preventable suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya comments on the refusal to accept compromise—neither half the kingdom nor even five villages—despite the visible aftermath of war, with brave kṣatriyas lying dead on the earth. It frames the ongoing devastation as tied to obstinate rejection of peace.