Shloka 931

भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ११०: पार्थभीमयोः प्रहारः तथा भीष्माभिमुखं संग्रामविस्तारः

Arjuna and Bhima’s pressure; escalation toward Bhishma

Devanagari script

गुरुणा कुरुवृद्धेन कृतप्रज्ञेन धीमता । पितामहेन संग्रामे कथं योद्धास्मि माधव

Transliteration

guruṇā kuruvṛddhena kṛtaprajñena dhīmatā | pitāmahena saṅgrāme kathaṁ yoddhāsmi mādhava

Translation

Sañjaya nói: “Hỡi Mādhava, làm sao ta có thể giao chiến trong trận này chống lại vị tổ phụ đáng tôn kính—bậc thầy của ta, người trưởng lão nhất của dòng Kuru—đấng trí tuệ, tâm trí vững bền trong hiểu biết và có sự phân minh sáng tỏ?”

Word by Word

• गुरुणा: by/with the teacher (elder)
• गुरुणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• कुरुवृद्धेन: by the elder of the Kurus
• कुरुवृद्धेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुरुवृद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• कृतप्रज्ञेन: by the wise (of accomplished understanding)
• कृतप्रज्ञेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतप्रज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• धीमता: by the intelligent one
• धीमता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• पितामहेन: by the grandsire
• पितामहेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• संग्रामे: in battle
• संग्रामे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• कथम्: how
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• योद्धा: a fighter
• योद्धा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: योद्धृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्मि: am / shall I be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present, First, Singular

• माधव: O Mādhava (Krishna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Madhava (Krishna)
• Pitamaha (Bhishma)
• Kuru elders (Kuru-vrddha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds a dharmic conflict: reverence toward one’s teacher and elder (guru, pitāmaha, kuru-vṛddha) versus the kṣatriya obligation to fight in a righteous war. It highlights the ethical weight of violence when directed toward revered figures, demanding discernment rather than impulsive action.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the midst of the Kurukṣetra battle account, the speaker voices hesitation about engaging Bhīṣma—revered as grandsire and teacher—describing him as wise and steady-minded, and asking how such a person can be fought in war.