Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 3

भीष्मव्यूहदर्शनम् / Viewing Bhīṣma’s Battle Array and Arjuna’s Reassurance

धनंजय कथं शक्‍्यमस्माभिरययोंद्धुमाहवे । धार्तराष्ट्रमहाबाहो येषां योद्धा पितामह:,“महाबाहु धनंजय! जिनके प्रधान योद्धा पितामह भीष्म हैं, उन धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रोंके साथ हम समरभूमिमें कैसे युद्ध कर सकते हैं?

sañjaya uvāca |

dhanañjaya kathaṁ śakyam asmābhir ayodhyum āhave |

dhārtarāṣṭra-mahābāho yeṣāṁ yoddhā pitāmahaḥ ||

سنجے نے کہا— اے مہاباہو دھننجے! جن دھرتراشٹر کے بیٹوں کا سب سے بڑا یودھا خود پِتامہ بھیشم ہے، اُن کے ساتھ ہم اس میدانِ جنگ میں کیسے لڑ سکتے ہیں؟

धनंजयO Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
धनंजय:
TypeNoun
Rootधनंजय
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
कथम्how
कथम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम्
शक्यम्possible
शक्यम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootशक्य
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
अस्माभिःby us
अस्माभिः:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
Form—, Instrumental, Plural
अययाwith weapons/iron (arms)
अयया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअय
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
योद्धुम्to fight
योद्धुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootयुध्
FormInfinitive
आहवेin battle
आहवे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootआहव
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
धार्तराष्ट्रthe sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Kauravas)
धार्तराष्ट्र:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधार्तराष्ट्र
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
महाबाहोO mighty-armed one
महाबाहो:
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाबाहु
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
येषाम्of whom/whose
येषाम्:
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
Form—, Genitive, Plural
योद्धाthe fighter/champion
योद्धा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयोद्धृ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पितामहःthe grandsire (Bhīṣma)
पितामहः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपितामह
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
D
Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra
D
Dhārtarāṣṭras (Kauravas)
P
Pitāmaha (Bhīṣma)
Ā
Āhava (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

The verse foregrounds the ethical tension between kṣatriya duty to fight a just war and the moral weight of fighting revered elders. It frames the battlefield not only as a military contest but as a test of dharma, where respect, loyalty, and righteousness collide.

Sanjaya addresses Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), voicing the difficulty of fighting the Kauravas because their leading champion is Bhīṣma, the revered grandsire. The statement highlights the psychological and ethical obstacle posed by Bhīṣma’s presence at the head of the opposing army.