Shloka 31

भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः

Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed

Devanagari script

सोअन्यत्‌ कार्मुकमादाय समरे भारसाधनम्‌ | माद्रीपुत्रं सुसंहृष्टो दशभिर्निशितै: शरै:

Transliteration

so 'nyat kārmukam ādāya samare bhārasādhanam | mādrīputraṁ susaṁhṛṣṭo daśabhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ||

Translation

桑阇耶说道：随后，他又执起另一张弓——足以承受战阵重压的兵器——心中激昂，便以十支锋利如剃刀的箭矢射中摩德丽之子。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अन्यत्: another
• अन्यत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कार्मुकम्: bow
• कार्मुकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्मुक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• भारसाधनम्: capable of bearing a heavy load (strong)
• भारसाधनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भारसाधन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• माद्रीपुत्रम्: the son of Madri
• माद्रीपुत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: माद्रीपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सुसंहृष्टः: highly delighted / exultant
• सुसंहृष्टः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + संहृष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past participle used adjectivally)

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Karana
• Type: Numeral
• Root: दशन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• निशितैः: sharp
• निशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural, क्त (past participle used adjectivally)

• शरैः: arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Mādrī
• Mādrīputra (Nakula or Sahadeva)
• bow (kārmuka)
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of steadfast action in battle—skill, readiness, and resolve—while implicitly reminding the reader that even justified warfare carries moral gravity when directed against worthy opponents.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Sañjaya’s battlefield report, a warrior takes up a different, sturdier bow and, in high spirits, shoots Mādrī’s son with ten sharp arrows, intensifying the combat.