Shloka 27

Devanagari script

विराटस्य प्रियो भ्राता शतानीको निपातित: । शतानीकं च समरे हत्वा भीष्म: प्रतापवान्‌

Transliteration

virāṭasya priyo bhrātā śatānīko nipātitaḥ | śatānīkaṃ ca samare hatvā bhīṣmaḥ pratāpavān ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Em trai yêu quý của Virāṭa, Śatānīka, đã bị quật ngã. Giết Śatānīka giữa trận tiền, Bhīṣma dũng mãnh lại tiến lên.

Word by Word

विराटस्यof Virata

प्रियःdear

भ्राताbrother

शतानीकःShatanika (proper name)

निपातितःwas struck down / felled

शतानीकम्Shatanika (as object)

चand

समरेin battle

हत्वाhaving slain

भीष्मःBhishma

प्रतापवान्mighty / valiant

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Virāṭa

Śatānīka

Bhīṣma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the harsh reality of righteous warfare as conceived in the epic: warriors act from duty and allegiance, yet the outcome is tragic—beloved relatives of allies can be cut down. It invites reflection on kṣatriya-dharma (martial duty) and the ethical weight of violence even when performed by renowned elders like Bhīṣma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma, fighting for the Kauravas, has slain Śatānīka, described as Virāṭa’s dear brother, during the battle.