Shloka 59

Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)

Devanagari script

व्यधमद्‌ द्विषत: संख्ये खगराडिव पन्नगान्‌ | देहान्‌ सुनिशितैर्भल्लै रिपूर्णां नाशयन्‌ क्षणात्‌

Transliteration

vyadhamad dviṣataḥ saṅkhye khagarāḍ iva pannagān | dehān suniśitair bhallaiḥ ripūṇāṃ nāśayan kṣaṇāt ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Giữa trận tiền, ngài đánh gục những chiến binh thù địch như Garuḍa—vua loài chim—quật ngã rắn độc. Với những mũi tên sắc như dao, ngài hủy diệt thân xác kẻ thù trong khoảnh khắc—hình ảnh của đà tàn khốc của chiến tranh, nơi sức mạnh được đo bằng sự gây thương tổn nhanh và quyết liệt chứ không bởi lòng trắc ẩn.

Word by Word

• व्यधमत्: he struck/beat down
• व्यधमत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यधम् (धातु: ध्मा/ध्मा॒—ध्मा ध्माने; here in sense of 'to strike/beat down')
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• द्विषतः: enemies
• द्विषतः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विषत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• संख्ये: in battle
• संख्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संख्या
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• खगराट्: the king of birds (Garuḍa)
• खगराट्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: खगराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• पन्नगान्: serpents
• पन्नगान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पन्नग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• देहान्: bodies
• देहान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सुनिशितैः: with very sharp
• सुनिशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुनिशित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• भल्लैः: arrows (bhalla-shafts)
• भल्लैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भल्ल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• रिपूर्णाम्: enemies
• रिपूर्णाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नाशयन्: destroying
• नाशयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नाशय (धातु: नश्/नश्—नाशने; causative)
• Form: Śatṛ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्षणात्: in an instant
• क्षणात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• खगराट् / गरुड (Khagarāṭ / Garuḍa)
• पन्नग (serpents)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s stark portrayal of kṣatriya warfare: skill and speed can annihilate opponents instantly. Ethically, it underscores the tension between duty in war and the human cost—valor is celebrated, yet the imagery also reminds the listener of war’s merciless nature.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates a warrior’s overwhelming assault in the battlefield, comparing him to Garuḍa preying on serpents. Using extremely sharp arrows, he rapidly kills or disables many enemies.