Shloka 17

भीमसेनस्य वेगाभिपातः—विशोकसारथिसंवादश्च

Bhīma’s surge and dialogue with charioteer Viśoka

Devanagari script

शतानीकं च नवभ्िर्धर्मपुत्रं च पठचभि: । तथेतरांस्तत: शूरान्‌ द्वाभ्यां द्वाभ्यामताडयत्‌

Transliteration

Śatānīkaṃ ca navabhir Dharmaputraṃ ca pañcabhiḥ | tathā itarāṃs tataḥ śūrān dvābhyāṃ dvābhyām atāḍayat ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Chàng bắn chín mũi tên vào Śatānīka và năm mũi vào Dharmaputra (Yudhiṣṭhira). Rồi cũng theo cách ấy, chàng tiếp tục đánh các dũng tướng khác—mỗi người hai mũi tên—thúc ép trận chiến bằng sức mạnh có chừng mực mà không hề nương tay.

Word by Word

• शतानीकम्: Śatānīka (a warrior/king)
• शतानीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतानीक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• नवभिः: with nine (arrows)
• नवभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• धर्मपुत्रम्: Dharmaputra (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• धर्मपुत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पञ्चभिः: with five (arrows)
• पञ्चभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• तथा: thus/likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• इतरान्: the others
• इतरान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इतर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• शूरान्: heroes/warriors
• शूरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• द्वाभ्याम्: with two (arrows)
• द्वाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Dual

• द्वाभ्याम्: with two (arrows) each
• द्वाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Dual

• अताडयत्: struck/smit
• अताडयत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: तड्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Past, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śatānīka
• Dharmaputra (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the disciplined, methodical application of force in battle—an image of controlled martial skill rather than random violence. Ethically, it underscores how warfare in the epic is often portrayed as governed by technique, targets, and measured action, even amid chaos.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a combatant’s arrow-strikes: Śatānīka is hit with nine arrows, Yudhiṣṭhira with five, and then other warriors are struck in pairs of arrows, indicating a continuing, systematic assault across the battlefield.