Shloka 18

भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः

Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed

Devanagari script

(अभिमन्युं तथा5<यान्तं भीष्मस्याभ्युद्यतं वधे ।) काम्बोजराजो बलवान्‌ वारयामास संयुगे

Transliteration

abhimanyum tathā yāntaṃ bhīṣmasyābhyudyataṃ vadhe | kāmbojarājo balavān vārayāmāsa saṃyuge ||

Translation

桑阇耶说道：当阿周那之子阿毗曼纽在战场上奋然前进，立志要诛灭毗湿摩之时，强悍的甘波阇国王在阵中将他拦住。

Word by Word

• अभिमन्युम्: Abhimanyu (as object)
• अभिमन्युम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिमन्यु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तथा: thus, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• आयान्तम्: coming, approaching
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (आ-)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• अभ्युद्यतम्: raised/ready, intent (set upon)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-यम् (अभि-उद्-)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वधे: in (the act of) killing; for slaying
• वधे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• काम्बोजराजः: the king of Kamboja
• काम्बोजराजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम्बोज-राज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बलवान्: strong, powerful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वारयामास: stopped, restrained
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (वारयति) / वारय् (णिच्)
• Form: लिट् (periphrastic perfect), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सम्युगे: in battle
• सम्युगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्युग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Abhimanyu
• Arjuna
• Bhīṣma
• King of Kāmboja (Kāmbojarāja)
• Kāmboja

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when a warrior’s aim is framed as righteous or necessary within war, it must pass through the discipline of opposition: other fighters, bound by their own loyalty and duty, legitimately obstruct him. Dharma in battle is not merely intention but also endurance, restraint, and facing rightful resistance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Abhimanyu advances on the battlefield with the intention of killing Bhīṣma. The powerful king of Kāmboja confronts him and prevents his forward movement, forcing Abhimanyu to engage or be delayed rather than reaching Bhīṣma directly.