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Shloka 35

Rajo-dhūli-saṃmūḍha-saṅgrāmaḥ

The Dust-Obscured Battle and Mutual Charges

ततो भीष्मो महाबाहुर्विनद्य जलदो यथा । तालमात्र धनुर्गृद्दा शडुखमभ्यद्रवद्‌ रणे,तदनन्तर महाबाहु भीष्मने मेघके समान गर्जना करके चार हाथ लंबा धनुष लेकर रणभूमिमें शंखपर धावा किया

tato bhīṣmo mahābāhur vinadya jalado yathā | tālamātraṃ dhanur gṛhya śaṅkham abhyadravad raṇe ||

Sañjaya nói: Rồi Bhīṣma, bậc dũng sĩ tay mạnh, gầm vang như mây sấm; ông cầm lấy cây cung dài như thân cây thốt nốt và xông vào trận, lao thẳng về phía chiến binh mang tù và (ốc tù và).

ततःthen/thereupon
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
FormAvyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from/thereupon')
भीष्मःBhishma
भीष्मः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभीष्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
महाबाहुःthe mighty-armed (one)
महाबाहुः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाबाहु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विनद्यhaving roared
विनद्य:
TypeVerb
Rootनद्
FormAbsolutive (त्वान्त/ल्यप्): 'having roared/cried out'
जलदःa cloud
जलदः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजलद
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
यथाlike/as
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
FormAvyaya (comparative particle)
तालमात्रम्of the measure of a tāla (very long)
तालमात्रम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootतालमात्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
धनुःbow
धनुः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधनुस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
गृहीत्वाhaving taken
गृहीत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootग्रह्
FormAbsolutive (क्त्वा): 'having taken/holding'
शङ्खम्conch (name/target: Shankha)
शङ्खम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशङ्ख
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अभ्यद्रवत्ran towards/charged
अभ्यद्रवत्:
TypeVerb
Rootद्रु
FormImperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular
रणेin battle
रणे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरण
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
B
Bhishma
B
bow (dhanuḥ)
C
conch (śaṅkha)
B
battlefield (raṇa)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the epic’s ethical tension: warriors act with unwavering resolve within the role they have accepted. Bhishma’s fearsome advance embodies kshatriya steadfastness, even when dharma is complex and loyalties are divided.

Sanjaya describes Bhishma escalating the battle: he roars like a thundercloud, takes up a very long bow, and charges toward the conch-bearing opponent on the battlefield, signaling an aggressive engagement.