Shloka 2

भीष्मरथाभिमुख्यं — Arjuna’s advance with Śikhaṇḍin; Duḥśāsana’s interception

Devanagari script

गाड़ेयो रथिनां श्रेष्ठ; पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम्‌ । व्यधमन्निशितैर्बाणै: शतशो5थ सहस्रश:

Transliteration

gāṅgeyo rathināṁ śreṣṭhaḥ pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm | vyadhamann iśitaiḥ bāṇaiḥ śataśo ’tha sahasraśaḥ ||

Translation

Sanjaya thưa: Bhishma, con của sông Hằng và bậc nhất trong hàng chiến xa, bắt đầu nghiền nát đại quân Pandava, trút mưa tên sắc nhọn hàng trăm, hàng nghìn mũi.

Word by Word

• गाङ्गेयः: Gāṅgeya (Bhīṣma, son of Gaṅgā)
• गाङ्गेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाङ्गेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथिनाम्: of chariot-warriors
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• श्रेष्ठः: best, foremost
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पाण्डवानाम्: of the Pāṇḍavas
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अनीकिनीम्: army, host
• अनीकिनीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीकिनी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• व्यधमत्: he struck/assailed, smote
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्मा
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• निशितैः: with sharp
• निशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शतशः: by hundreds
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शतशस्

• अथ: then, and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• सहस्रशः: by thousands
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रशस्

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma (Gāṅgeya)
• Gaṅgā
• Pāṇḍavas
• anīkinī (army/host)
• bāṇa (arrows)
• ratha/rathin (chariot-warrior)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how extraordinary skill and revered status do not exempt one from the harsh demands of pledged duty in war. It invites reflection on dharma in conflict: personal virtue and martial excellence can still serve destructive ends when bound by vows, allegiance, and the momentum of a righteous-yet-tragic war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma, leading the Kaurava side, begins a fierce assault on the Pāṇḍava forces, raining sharp arrows in massive volleys and breaking their formations.