Mahabharata 6.49.126 — Bhishma Parva, Adhyaya 49, Shloka 126

Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions

Devanagari script

आनर्च्छतु: शरैघेरिस्तक्षमाणौ परस्परम्‌ | उन दोनोंमें बड़ा भयंकर रोमांचकारी युद्ध हुआ। सात्यकिने कृतवर्माको और कृतवर्मनि सात्यकिको भयंकर बाणोंसे घायल करते हुए एक-दूसरेको बड़ी पीड़ा पहुँचायी

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

ānarcchatuḥ śaraiḥ ghoraiḥ kṣatamāṇau parasparam |

Translation

Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Pagkaraan, sa pag-ulan ng nakapanghihilakbot na mga palaso, nagpasugat sila sa isa’t isa nang salit-salitan; si Sātyaki at si Kṛtavarman ay naglaban sa isang marahas at nakakakilabot na tunggalian, na nagdulot ng matinding sakit sa kapwa nila.

Word by Word

• आनर्च्छतुः: the two attacked/assailed
• आनर्च्छतुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ऋच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम, द्विवचनम्

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्

• घेरि-स्तक्षमाणौ: both hewing/cutting (each other), fiercely
• घेरि-स्तक्षमाणौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: तक्ष् (धातु) + घेरि (प्रातिपदिक/नाम)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-वर्तमानकृदन्त (स्तक्षमाणौ), आत्मनेपदभावः, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम्

• परस्परम्: each other / mutually
• परस्परम्: Karma
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर
• Form: true

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Sātyaki
• Kṛtavarman
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the grim reciprocity of violence in war: when duty is framed as combat, even great warriors become instruments of mutual suffering. It implicitly invites reflection on restraint and the heavy cost that accompanies kṣatriya valor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Sātyaki and Kṛtavarman engaging in a terrifying exchange of arrows. Both are wounded as they strike each other repeatedly, producing an intense and fearsome duel on the battlefield.