Shloka 473

Devanagari script

तानप्याशु शरैर्भीष्म: प्रविव्याध महारथ: । इसी प्रकार दूसरे लोगोंने भी सहस्रों बाणोंद्वारा भीष्मजीको घायल किया। तब महारथी भीष्मने भी तुरंत ही अपने बाणोंद्वारा उन सबको बींध डाला

Transliteration

tān apy āśu śarair bhīṣmaḥ pravivyādha mahārathaḥ |

Translation

三阇耶说道：毗湿摩，这位大车战士，也迅疾以箭矢洞穿那些敌手。纵然旁人以千矢齐发伤及毗湿摩，他仍立刻还击，以箭雨将众人尽皆射透——此乃不息的武士之责：战场上的往复，凭的是技艺与坚忍，而非私怨。

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• आशु: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु

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

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

• प्रविव्याध: pierced
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, प्र

• महारथः: the great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores kṣatriya-duty in war: steadfastness and immediate response under attack. Bhīṣma’s action is portrayed as disciplined martial conduct—enduring injury and fulfilling his role without hesitation.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the thick of the Kurukṣetra battle, opponents strike Bhīṣma with many arrows; Bhīṣma, the foremost chariot-warrior, promptly counters by piercing them with his own arrows.