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Shloka 49

भीष्मवधोपाय-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into the means to overcome Bhīṣma) | Chapter 103

विरथांश्व महेष्वासान्‌ कृत्वा तत्र स राक्षस: । अभिदुद्राव वेगेन हन्तुकामो निशाचर:,उन महाथनुर्धर वीरोंको रथहीन करके युद्धमें उन्हें मार डालनेकी इच्छासे निशाचर अलम्बुषने बड़े वेगसे उनपर धावा किया

virathānśva-maheṣvāsān kṛtvā tatra sa rākṣasaḥ | abhidudrāva vegena hantukāmo niśācaraḥ ||

桑阇耶说道:他在那里先使那些大弓手失却战车与战马,那罗刹——夜行者阿蓝布沙——便挟狂飙之势猛扑而上,欲在阵中将他们尽数诛杀。

विरथान्chariotless
विरथान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootविरथ (वि-रथ)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
महेष्वासान्great bowmen
महेष्वासान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमहेष्वास
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
कृत्वाhaving made
कृत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
राक्षसःthe demon
राक्षसः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराक्षस
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अभिदुद्रावrushed upon / charged
अभिदुद्राव:
TypeVerb
Rootद्रु (द्रव्/द्रु गतौ)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, अभि
वेगेनwith speed
वेगेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवेग
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
हन्तुकामःdesiring to kill
हन्तुकामः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootहन्तुकाम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
निशाचरःthe night-roamer (rakshasa)
निशाचरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनिशाचर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
A
Alambuṣa (rākṣasa/niśācara)
M
maheṣvāsas (great archers)
R
ratha (chariot)
A
aśva (horses)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how intent and method matter in war: the rākṣasa’s aim is not fair contest but swift killing after disabling opponents, illustrating a drift toward adharma and the moral tension between valor and ruthless expediency.

Sañjaya reports that the rākṣasa Alambuṣa first renders great archers chariotless (and without horses) and then charges at them at high speed, driven by the desire to kill them on the battlefield.