Shloka 109

Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)

Devanagari script

प्रत्यविध्यत तान्‌ सर्वान्‌ पिता देवव्रतस्तव । यतमानान्‌ महेष्वासांस्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरजिद्यागैः

Transliteration

pratyavidhyata tān sarvān pitā devavratas tava | yatamānān maheṣvāsāṁs tribhis tribhir ajihmagaiḥ ||

Translation

سنجے نے کہا—تب تمہارے پدرانہ بزرگ دیوورت (بھیشم) نے جنگ میں کوشاں ان سب عظیم کمان داروں کو تین تین سیدھے جانے والے تیروں سے چھید کر جواب دیا۔

Word by Word

• प्रत्यविध्यत: pierced (in return)
• प्रत्यविध्यत: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-व्यध्
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), 3, Singular, परस्मैपदम्

• तान्: those (men)
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• देवव्रतः: Devavrata (Bhishma)
• देवव्रतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवव्रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तव: your
• तव: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• यतमानान्: striving, making effort
• यतमानान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यतमान
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• महेष्वासान्: great bowmen
• महेष्वासान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• त्रिभिः: with three (each)
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अजिह्मगैः: going straight (un-crooked)
• अजिह्मगैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजिह्मग
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Devavrata (Bhīṣma)
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by 'tava')
• arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined action in accordance with kṣatriya-duty: even in retaliation, Bhīṣma’s response is controlled and precise—an ethical ideal of measured force rather than uncontrolled rage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma (Devavrata), acting as the Kaurava commander, counters the attacking great archers by piercing each with three straight-flying arrows, thereby answering their effort on the battlefield.