Shloka 52

गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह

Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation

Devanagari script

निगृहा कार्मुकं श्वेतो भीष्म॑ विव्याध सप्तभि: । पराक्रमं ततस्तस्य पराक्रम्य पराक्रमी

Transliteration

nigṛhya kārmukaṁ śveto bhīṣmaṁ vivyādha saptabhiḥ | parākramaṁ tatastasyā parākramya parākramī ||

Translation

Sañjaya thưa: Sau khi ghì và giữ vững cây cung, Śveta bắn trúng Bhīṣma bằng bảy mũi tên. Rồi vị dũng sĩ ấy, lấy dũng lực của mình đối sánh với uy lực của Bhīṣma, liền xông lên trong khí phách.

Word by Word

• निगृह्य: having seized/checked (having restrained)
• निगृह्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-ग्रह्
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), परस्मैपद-भाव (active sense)

• कार्मुकम्: bow
• कार्मुकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्मुक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्वेतः: Śveta (proper name)
• श्वेतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीष्मम्: Bhīṣma
• भीष्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विव्याध: pierced, struck
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-व्यध्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सप्तभिः: with seven (arrows)
• सप्तभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• पराक्रमम्: valor, prowess
• पराक्रमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• तस्य: of him
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• पराक्रम्य: having overpowered, having surpassed
• पराक्रम्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: परा-क्रम्
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), परस्मैपद-भाव (active sense)

• पराक्रमी: the mighty one, the valorous (hero)
• पराक्रमी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराक्रमिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śveta
• Bhīṣma
• bow (kārmuka)
• seven arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined martial action: restraint and steadiness (nigṛhya) precede effective force. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, valor is not mere aggression but controlled prowess exercised within kṣatriya-duty on the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the warrior Śveta steadies his bow and shoots Bhīṣma with seven arrows. He then advances further, meeting Bhīṣma’s renowned prowess with his own, intensifying the combat.