Shloka 39

भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः

Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed

Devanagari script

भीमसेनसुतं चापि दुर्मुख: सुमुखै: शरैः । षष्ट्या वीरो नदन्‌ हृष्टो विव्याध रणमूर्थनि

Transliteration

bhīmasenasutaṃ cāpi durmukhaḥ sumukhaiḥ śaraiḥ | ṣaṣṭyā vīro nadan hṛṣṭo vivyādha raṇamūrdhani ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：随后，英勇的杜尔穆迦欢呼咆哮，在战阵最前沿以六十支锋利而精准的箭矢射穿毗摩塞那之子迦托迦遮。此景彰显战争无情升级：武勇与凶烈决心驱使战士在战斗的锋刃处步步紧逼，不顾亲缘与后果。

Word by Word

• भीमसेनसुतम्: Bhimasena's son (Ghaṭotkaca)
• भीमसेनसुतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन-सुत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• दुर्मुखः: Durmukha (a warrior)
• दुर्मुखः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्मुख
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुमुखैः: with sharp-pointed / well-faced (arrows)
• सुमुखैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमुख
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

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

• षष्ट्या: with sixty (i.e., by a set of sixty)
• षष्ट्या: Karana
• Type: Noun (numeral)
• Root: षष्टि
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• वीरः: the hero
• वीरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नदन्: roaring / shouting
• Type: Verb
• Root: नद्
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हृष्टः: delighted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट
• Form: Past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विव्याध: pierced
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• रणमूर्धनि: on the battlefield-front / at the head of battle
• रणमूर्धनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण-मूर्धन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Durmukha
• Bhīmasena
• Ghaṭotkaca
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the uncompromising momentum of dharma-yuddha as understood by warriors: once battle is joined, courage, skill, and resolve are tested at the front line, and personal ties do not halt the harsh duties of combat.

What is happening in the narrative?

Durmukha, a Kaurava fighter, joyfully roars and shoots sixty arrows at Ghaṭotkaca, Bhīma’s son, wounding him at the very forefront of the battlefield.