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Shloka 115

Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava

शिलीमुखा: पार्थधनु:प्रमुक्ता रथान्‌ ध्वजाग्राणि धनूंषि बाहून्‌ । निकृत्य देहान्‌ विविशु: परेषां नरेन्द्रनागेन्द्रतुरज़्माणाम्‌,अर्जुनके धनुषसे छूटे हुए बाण शत्रुओंके रथ, ध्वजाग्र, धनुष और बाहु काटकर नरेशों, गजराजों तथा घोड़ोंके शरीरोंमें घुसने लगे

sañjaya uvāca | śilīmukhāḥ pārthadhanuḥ-pramuktā rathān dhvajāgrāṇi dhanūṃṣi bāhūn | nikṛtya dehān viviśuḥ pareṣāṃ narendra-nāgendra-turagāṇām ||

Sañjaya nói: Những mũi tên sắc bén phóng ra từ cung của Pārtha đã chém đứt chiến xa, ngọn cờ, cung và cánh tay; rồi sau khi hạ gục, chúng lao thẳng vào thân thể các vua đối địch, những voi chúa và ngựa chiến.

शिलीमुखाःarrows (barbed shafts)
शिलीमुखाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशिलीमुख
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
पार्थ-धनुः-प्रमुक्ताःreleased from Arjuna's bow
पार्थ-धनुः-प्रमुक्ताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootपार्थधनुःप्रमुक्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
रथान्chariots
रथान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
ध्वज-अग्राणिflagstaff-tops / banner-points
ध्वज-अग्राणि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootध्वजाग्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
धनूंषिbows
धनूंषि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधनुस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
बाहून्arms
बाहून्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootबाहु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
निकृत्यhaving cut off
निकृत्य:
TypeVerb
Rootनि + कृद् (कर्तने)
FormAbsolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), Active
देहान्bodies
देहान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदेह
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
विविशुःentered / pierced into
विविशुः:
TypeVerb
Rootवि + विश्
FormPerfect (लिट्), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
परेषाम्of the enemies / of others
परेषाम्:
TypePronoun/Adjective
Rootपर
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
नरेन्द्र-नागेन्द्र-तुरङ्गमाणाम्of kings, lordly elephants, and horses
नरेन्द्र-नागेन्द्र-तुरङ्गमाणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootनरेन्द्रनागेन्द्रतुरङ्गम
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
P
Pārtha (Arjuna)
A
arrows (śilīmukha)
B
bow (dhanuḥ)
C
chariots (ratha)
B
banners/standards (dhvaja)
K
kings (narendra)
E
elephants (nāgendra)
H
horses (turaga)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the harsh reality of righteous warfare as conceived in the epic: when dharma requires battle, a kṣatriya’s skill is exercised with decisive force. It implicitly raises the ethical weight of combat—power is effective, but its results are grievous and irreversible.

Sañjaya describes Arjuna’s arrows flying from his bow and cutting down enemy equipment (chariots, banner-tops, bows) and even severing arms, then piercing the bodies of enemy kings, elephants, and horses—depicting a moment of overwhelming battlefield dominance.