Shloka 476

Devanagari script

बहुधा भीष्ममानर्च्छुर्मार्गणै: क्षतमार्गणै: । ये सभी वीर सुदृढ़ धनुष धारण करनेवाले और युद्धसे कभी पीछे न हटनेवाले थे। इन्होंने शत्रुओंके बाणोंको नष्ट करनेवाले सायकोंद्वारा भीष्मको बारंबार पीड़ित किया

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | bahudhā bhīṣmam ānarccur mārgaṇaiḥ kṣatamārgaṇaiḥ |

Translation

三阇耶说道：他们一次又一次以箭雨袭击毗湿摩——那些箭矢在飞行中已被撞钝、折损——却仍旧不肯退却。那些勇士手执强弓，临阵从不回头，反复以能摧折敌箭的利矢折磨毗湿摩，使围绕这位大祖父的激战愈发惨烈。

Word by Word

• बहुधा: many times, repeatedly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा

• भीष्मम्: Bhishma (as object)
• भीष्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आनर्च्छुः: they struck/assailed (repeatedly)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नर्च्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• मार्गणैः: with arrows
• मार्गणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्गण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• क्षतमार्गणैः: with arrows that were damaged/broken
• क्षतमार्गणैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षत-मार्गण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Bhishma
• arrows (mārgaṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage underscores kshatriya steadfastness in battle—warriors do not retreat and continue their duty even amid intense danger—while also highlighting the grim ethical weight of warfare, where skill and persistence can become instruments of relentless suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya describes a moment in the Kurukshetra battle where warriors repeatedly attack Bhishma with volleys of arrows, including shafts intended to neutralize opposing missiles, thereby continually harassing and wounding the grandsire amid a concentrated exchange of archery.