Shloka 27

Devanagari script

विराटस्य प्रियो भ्राता शतानीको निपातित: । शतानीकं च समरे हत्वा भीष्म: प्रतापवान्‌

Transliteration

virāṭasya priyo bhrātā śatānīko nipātitaḥ | śatānīkaṃ ca samare hatvā bhīṣmaḥ pratāpavān ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：毗罗吒所钟爱的兄弟——设多尼迦——被击倒了。毗湿摩英勇无比，在阵中斩杀设多尼迦之后，继续向前推进。

Word by Word

• विराटस्य: of Virata
• विराटस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराट
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• प्रियः: dear
• प्रियः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भ्राता: brother
• भ्राता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शतानीकः: Shatanika (proper name)
• शतानीकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतानीक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निपातितः: was struck down / felled
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-पत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• शतानीकम्: Shatanika (as object)
• शतानीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतानीक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

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

• हत्वा: having slain
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रतापवान्: mighty / valiant
• प्रतापवान्: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतापवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Virāṭa
• Śatānīka
• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the harsh reality of righteous warfare as conceived in the epic: warriors act from duty and allegiance, yet the outcome is tragic—beloved relatives of allies can be cut down. It invites reflection on kṣatriya-dharma (martial duty) and the ethical weight of violence even when performed by renowned elders like Bhīṣma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma, fighting for the Kauravas, has slain Śatānīka, described as Virāṭa’s dear brother, during the battle.