Shloka 17

आशा-कृशता उपाख्यानम्

The Episode on the Emaciation Caused by Hope

Devanagari script

तस्य मर्मच्छिदं घोरं तीक्ष्णं चामित्रकर्शन: । समादाय शरं श्रेष्ठ कार्मुके तु तथासृजत्‌

Transliteration

tasya marma-cchidaṃ ghoraṃ tīkṣṇaṃ cāmitra-karśanaḥ | samādāya śaraṃ śreṣṭhaṃ kārmuke tu tathāsṛjat ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు అన్నాడు—అప్పుడు శత్రుసంహారకుడు మర్మభేదకమైన, భయంకరమైన, అత్యంత పదునైన శ్రేష్ఠ బాణాన్ని తీసుకొని, ధనుస్సు నుండి అలాగే విడిచాడు।

Word by Word

तस्यof him/that

मर्मच्छिदम्piercing the vital parts

घोरम्terrible

तीक्ष्णम्sharp

चand

अमित्रकर्शनःthe harasser of foes

समादायhaving taken up

शरम्arrow

श्रेष्ठम्excellent, best

कार्मुकेin/on the bow

तुbut/indeed

तथाthus, in that manner

असृजत्he released/shot

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

arrow (śara)

bow (kārmuka)

enemy/foe (amitra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the lethal intentionality of combat—targeting ‘marma’ (vital points). Ethically, it serves as a sober reminder that choosing violence entails deliberate harm and often intensifies conflict, demanding restraint and responsibility in any exercise of power.

What is happening in the narrative?

A warrior described as ‘amitra-karśana’ (enemy-subduer) takes an exceptionally sharp, fearsome arrow designed to pierce vital points and releases it from his bow, indicating an imminent, decisive strike in battle.