Shloka 45

Bhīṣma–Karṇa Saṃvāda on the Śaraśayyā (भीष्म–कर्ण संवादः शरशय्यायाम्)

Devanagari script

धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु राजेन्द्र सर्वसैन्यान्यचोदयत्‌ । अभ्यद्रवत गाड़ेयं मा भैष्ट रथसत्तमा:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu rājendra sarvasainyāny acodayat | abhyadravat gāṅgeyaṃ mā bhaiṣṭa rathasattamāḥ |

Translation

Sanjaya thưa: “Muôn tâu đại vương, Dhrishtadyumna đã khích lệ toàn quân, thúc các đạo binh xông lên mà hô rằng: ‘Hỡi những chiến xa dũng tướng bậc nhất! Hãy lao vào Bhishma, con của sông Hằng! Chớ hề sợ hãi!’”

Word by Word

• धृष्टद्युम्नः: Dhrishtadyumna
• धृष्टद्युम्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृष्टद्युम्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings (O best of kings)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

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

• सैन्यानि: armies/troops
• सैन्यानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• अचोदयत्: urged/impelled
• Type: Verb
• Root: चुद्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अभ्यद्रवत: ran towards/charged
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• गाङ्गेयम्: the son of Ganga (Bhishma)
• गाङ्गेयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाङ्गेय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मा: do not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा

• भैष्ट: fear (you all)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भी
• Form: Imperative (Loṭ), 2nd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• रथसत्तमाः: O best of chariot-warriors
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथसत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhritarashtra
• Dhrishtadyumna
• Bhishma (Gāṅgeya, son of Ganga)
• Pandava army (implied by Dhrishtadyumna’s command)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In the midst of war, a commander’s dharma includes sustaining morale and directing action without panic. The verse highlights disciplined courage—fear is acknowledged but must be mastered in service of one’s duty and strategy.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Dhrishtadyumna rallies the entire Pandava host and orders a direct assault on Bhishma (Gāṅgeya), telling the foremost chariot-warriors not to fear him.