Shloka 136

भीष्मस्य अप्रतिमपराक्रमः — शिखण्डिपुरस्कृतः प्रहारः

Bhīṣma’s unmatched momentum and the assault with Śikhaṇḍin in the lead

Devanagari script

भीष्मस्य निधन प्रेप्सुं दुर्मुखो 5भ्यद्रवद्‌ बली । भीष्मकी मृत्यु चाहनेवाले क्रूरकर्मा राक्षस महाबली भीमसेनकुमार घटोत्कचपर बलवान दुर्मुखने आक्रमण किया

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | bhīṣmasya nidhanaṃ prepsuṃ durmukho 'bhyadravad balī |

Translation

三阇耶说道：欲致毗湿摩于死地，强悍的杜尔穆迦猛然冲出，发动攻击。在这场战争的道德氛围中，此举显出意志的愈发坚硬——追逐胜利不再只是与敌对阵，更是直指一位受人敬仰的长老之陨落；而他的存在，正维系着俱卢一族的武备秩序。

Word by Word

• भीष्मस्य: of Bhīṣma
• भीष्मस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• निधनम्: death, destruction
• निधनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रेप्सुम्: desiring to obtain (i.e., seeking)
• प्रेप्सुम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) → प्रेप्सु (इच्छार्थक कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दुर्मुखः: Durmukha (proper name; 'evil-faced')
• दुर्मुखः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्मुख
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभ्यद्रवत्: ran towards, charged at
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-द्रु (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Singular

• बली: mighty, powerful
• बली: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• Durmukha

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how intention (saṅkalpa) shapes the ethical weight of action: in war, charging an enemy is a kṣatriya act, but explicitly seeking the death of a venerable elder like Bhīṣma underscores the grim moral descent that accompanies fratricidal conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the powerful warrior Durmukha rushes forward, intent on causing Bhīṣma’s death, signaling an aggressive move against Bhīṣma on the battlefield.