Shloka 6

Chapter 51: Saṃdhyākāla-saṃhāra

Evening Withdrawal after Arjuna’s Counter-Advance

Devanagari script

नृत्यतो रथमार्गेषु भीष्मस्य भरतर्षभ । भृशमार्तस्वरं चक्रुर्नागा मर्मणि ताडिता:,भरतश्रेष्ठ! वे रथके मार्गोंपर नृत्य-सा कर रहे थे। उनके बाणोंसे मर्मस्थानोंमें चोट खाये हुए हाथी अत्यन्त आर्तनाद करने लगे

Transliteration

nṛtyato rathamārgeṣu bhīṣmasya bharatarṣabha | bhṛśam ārtasvaraṃ cakrur nāgā marmaṇi tāḍitāḥ ||

Translation

Sinabi ni Sañjaya: “O toro sa angkan ng mga Bharata! Habang umuusad ang karwahe ni Bhīṣma sa mga landas ng labanan na wari’y sumasayaw, ang mga elepante—tinamaan sa kanilang mahahalagang bahagi—ay napasigaw nang matinis at puno ng paghihirap.”

Word by Word

नृत्यतःof (him) dancing / while (he) was dancing

रथमार्गेषुon the chariot-tracks/roads

भीष्मस्यof Bhishma

भरतर्षभO bull among the Bharatas (best of Bharatas)

भृशम्exceedingly, greatly

आर्तस्वरम्a distressed cry / lamenting sound

चक्रुःthey made / they uttered

नागाःelephants

मर्मणिin a vital spot / at the vulnerable point

ताडिताःstruck, wounded

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīṣma

elephants (nāgāḥ)

chariot-paths (ratha-mārga)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the real cost of martial skill: striking vital points brings swift tactical effect but produces intense suffering. It invites reflection on the ethical gravity of warfare even when performed under kṣatriya-duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Bhīṣma’s advance in battle; as his chariot moves along the chariot-tracks, elephants that have been hit in vital spots cry out loudly in pain.