Shloka 22

Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance

Devanagari script

विमुखं च ततो रक्षो वध्यमानं रणेडरिणा

Transliteration

vimukhaṁ ca tato rakṣo vadhyamānaṁ raṇe 'riṇā

Translation

三阇耶说道：随后在战场上，那罗刹（rākṣasa）转身退却，正被其敌手斩杀。此句凸显战争的道德沉重：一旦在交锋中弃守坚忍，恐惧与紊乱随之而来，对手之力便成决断之势。

Word by Word

• विमुखम्: turned away; facing away
• विमुखम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमुख
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• ततः: then; from there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• रक्षः: the rākṣasa (demon)
• रक्षः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वध्यमानम्: being slain; being killed
• वध्यमानम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध्यमान (√वध्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• अरिणा: by the enemy
• अरिणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• रक्षः / राक्षस (rākṣasa)
• अरि (enemy/foe)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a battlefield ethic: loss of resolve and turning away (retreat in fear) exposes one to defeat. In the Mahābhārata’s moral frame, steadfastness and disciplined courage are repeatedly linked with kṣatriya-dharma, while panic and disorder invite ruin.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a rākṣasa fighter has turned away on the battlefield and is being struck down by an opposing warrior (the 'enemy'). The focus is on the moment of reversal—retreat leading immediately to vulnerability and destruction.