Shloka 6

Bhīṣma–Karṇa Saṃvāda on the Śaraśayyā (भीष्म–कर्ण संवादः शरशय्यायाम्)

Devanagari script

शल्यश्न समरे जिष्णुं कृपश्च रथिनां वर: । विव्यधाते महाराज बहुधा मर्मभेदिभि:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | śalyaś ca samare jiṣṇuṃ kṛpaś ca rathināṃ varaḥ | vivyadhāte mahārāja bahudhā marmabhedibhiḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：大王啊，在战场上，舍利耶与克利波——车战士中最卓越者——以多种能裂破要害之箭，屡屡射伤吉什努（阿周那）。

Word by Word

• शल्यः: Shalya
• शल्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

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

• जिष्णुम्: Arjuna (the victorious one)
• जिष्णुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिष्णु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कृपः: Kripa
• कृपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• रथिनाम्: of chariot-warriors
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वरः: the best
• वरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विव्यधाते: they pierced
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Dual, Parasmaipada

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• बहुधा: many times / in many ways
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा

• मर्मभेदिभिः: with vital-part-piercing (arrows)
• मर्मभेदिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मर्मभेदिन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• एकैकम्: each one (individually)
• एकैकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकैक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• आनर्च्छत्: he struck / reached (i.e., hit)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ऋच्छ् (आ-)
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कडुकबर्हिणवाजितैः: with arrows furnished with (vulture/peacock-like) feathers (as wings)
• कडुकबर्हिणवाजितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कडुक-बर्हिण-वाजित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhritarashtra
• Shalya
• Kripa (Kripacharya)
• Arjuna (Jishnu)
• arrows
• battlefield

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethic of kṣatriya-dharma in war: combat is fierce and painful, yet warriors are expected to remain steadfast, disciplined, and skilled. Endurance under attack and adherence to one’s duty are implied virtues, even when the conflict is morally complex.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Śalya and Kṛpa, eminent chariot-warriors on the Kaurava side, repeatedly strike Arjuna with arrows aimed at vital points, intensifying the pressure on him in the ongoing Kurukṣetra battle.