Shloka 12

Sainyasaṅgraha and Bhāga-Vyavasthā (Forces Assembled and Rival Allocations) | सैन्यसंग्रह-भागव्यवस्था

Devanagari script

भीष्म: शान्तनवो राजन्‌ भाग: क्लृप्त: शिखण्डिन: । तं॑ विराटोडनुसंयाता सार्थ मत्स्यै: प्रहारिभि:,राजन! शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मजीके वधका कार्य शिखण्डीको सौंपा गया है। राजा विराट मत्स्यदेशीय योद्धाओंके साथ शिखण्डीकी सहायताके लिये उसका अनुसरण करेंगे

Transliteration

bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo rājan bhāgaḥ klṛptaḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ | taṃ virāṭo 'nusamyātā sārthaṃ matsyaiḥ prahāribhiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: “Tâu Đại vương, việc hạ sát Bhīṣma, con của Śāntanu, đã được giao cho Śikhaṇḍin. Vua Virāṭa, cùng các dũng sĩ xứ Matsya thiện chiến, sẽ theo sau để trợ lực cho người ấy.”

Word by Word

भीष्मःBhishma

शान्तनवःson/descendant of Shantanu

राजन्O king

भागःshare/portion; (here) the task/part

क्लृप्तःassigned, arranged, allotted

शिखण्डिनःof Shikhandin (to/for Shikhandin)

तम्him

विराटःVirata

अनुसंयाताhaving followed; accompanying (as follower)

सार्थम्together with

मत्स्यैःwith the Matsyas (men of Matsya country)

प्रहारिभिःwith fighters/strikers, warriors

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sanjaya

Bhishma

Shantanu

Shikhandin

Virata

Matsya (kingdom/people)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights role-allocation in dharmic warfare: responsibilities are deliberately assigned according to circumstance and capability, and allies coordinate to support a designated agent. It also reflects the ethical tension of confronting an invincible elder through a specific, pre-arranged means.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports the planned arrangement: Shikhandin is designated as the key figure for Bhishma’s downfall, and King Virata, along with Matsya fighters, will accompany and support Shikhandin in that effort.