Shloka 20

Adhyāya 107 — बहुयुद्धप्रकरणम्

Multiple Defensive Engagements to Protect Bhīṣma

Devanagari script

चित्रसेनं त्रिभिर्बाणैविव्याध समरे भृशम्‌ । समागतोौ तौ तु रणे महामात्रौ व्यरोचताम्‌

Transliteration

citrāsenaṃ tribhir bāṇair vivyādha samare bhṛśam | samāgatau tau tu raṇe mahāmātrau vyarocatām ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Giữa trận chiến, chàng đã bắn Citrasena dữ dội bằng ba mũi tên. Khi hai dũng tướng ấy giáp mặt nơi chiến trường, họ rực sáng giữa trận mạc.

Word by Word

• चित्रसेनम्: Chitrasena (proper name), as the object
• चित्रसेनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रसेन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

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

• विव्याध: pierced, struck
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• भृशम्: greatly, fiercely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम्

• समागतौ: having come together, met
• समागतौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-गम्
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• तु: but, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• महामात्रौ: the two great warriors/commanders
• महामात्रौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामात्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• व्यरोचताम्: shone forth, appeared splendid
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-रुच्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Dual, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Citrāsena
• arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its stark form: in a righteous war, warriors must act decisively and skillfully, yet the narrative tone also underscores the gravity of violence—heroism is shown, but within the solemn burden of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a specific exchange in the fight: a warrior pierces Citrāsena with three arrows, and the two combatants, now fully engaged, appear radiant and formidable as they clash on the battlefield.