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Shloka 15

भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः

Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas

अकरोत्‌ स महाबाहु: सर्वशस्त्रभूतां वर: । ध्वजाएँ काटकर उन्होंने रथसमूहोंको मुण्डित ताल-वनोंके समान कर दिया। राजन! युद्धस्थलमें समस्त शस्त्रधारियोंमें श्रेष्ठ महाबाहु भीष्मने बहुत-से रथों, हाथियों और घोड़ोंको मनुष्योंसे रहित कर दिया ।।

sañjaya uvāca | akarot sa mahābāhuḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | dhvajāṃś ca chittvā rathasaṃghān muṇḍitān tālavanopamān akarot | rājann yuddhasthale samastaśastradhāriṇāṃ śreṣṭho mahābāhur bhīṣmo bahūn rathān hastinaś ca hayāṃś ca manuṣyair rahitān cakāra || tasya jyātalanirghoṣaṃ visphūrjitam ivāśaneḥ | śrutvā taṃ sarvabhūtāni kampante bhārata | bhīṣmasya bāṇā na kadācit riktaṃ yānti ||

Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Si Bhīṣma, ang makapangyarihang mandirigmang may malalakas na bisig at pinakadakila sa lahat ng may sandata, ay pumutol sa mga watawat at ginawang wari’y kakahuyan ng mga punong palma na naputulan ng tuktok ang buong hanay ng mga karwahe. O Hari, sa larangan ng digmaan, ang dakilang bayani—pinakamahusay sa mga mandirigmang may armas—ay nag-iwan ng maraming karwahe, elepante, at kabayo na wala nang sakay. Ang lagitik ng kanyang tali ng busog ay parang kulog ng kidlat; pagkarinig nito, nanginig ang lahat ng nilalang, O Bhārata. Ang mga palaso ni Bhīṣma, kapag pinakawalan, ay hindi kailanman nasasayang.

तस्यof him/its
तस्य:
Sambandha
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formmasculine/neuter, genitive, singular
ज्याbowstring
ज्या:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootज्या
Formfeminine, nominative, singular
तलsurface/flat part (here: the slap/strike)
तल:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतल
Formneuter, nominative, singular
निर्घोषम्loud sound/roar
निर्घोषम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनिर्घोष
Formmasculine, accusative, singular
विस्फूर्जितम्thundering/roaring
विस्फूर्जितम्:
Karma
TypeParticiple
Rootविस्फूर्जित
Formneuter, accusative, singular
इवlike/as if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
अशनेःof the thunderbolt (Indra’s bolt)/of thunder
अशनेः:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootअशनिः
Formmasculine, genitive, singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
B
Bhīṣma
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by rājan)
B
Bhārata (address)
C
chariots (ratha)
B
banners/standards (dhvaja)
E
elephants (hastin)
H
horses (haya)
B
bowstring (jyā)
A
arrows (bāṇa)
T
thunderbolt/lightning (aśani)

Educational Q&A

The passage highlights the awe-inspiring force of a great warrior and the grave consequences of war: skill and power, when aligned with kṣatriya-duty, can still generate fear and widespread suffering—reminding the listener that martial excellence carries ethical weight and responsibility.

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma is dominating the battlefield—cutting down chariot standards, disabling many chariots, elephants, and horses by removing their riders, and terrifying all beings with the thunder-like twang of his bow; his arrows consistently strike their targets.