Shloka 56

Bhīṣma-nipāta-saṃvāda — Sañjaya’s Report of Bhīṣma’s Fall (भीष्मनिपातसंवादः)

Devanagari script

घातयित्वा महावीर्य पितरं लोकधार्मिकम्‌ | अगाधे सलिले मग्नां नावं दृष्टवेव पारगा:

Transliteration

ghātayitvā mahāvīryaṃ pitaraṃ lokadhārmikam | agādhe salile magnāṃ nāvaṃ dṛṣṭveva pāragāḥ, sañjaya! āj jīvita rahanepar bhī hamalogoṃ meṃ kyā sāmarthya hai? jagat-ke vikhyāta dharmātmā mahāparākrāmī pitā bhīṣma-ko yuddha meṃ maravākar ham usī prakār śoka meṃ ḍūb gaye haiṃ, jaise pāra jāne-kī icchā-vāle pathik nāva-ko agādha jala meṃ ḍūbī huī dekhkar duḥkhī hote haiṃ

Translation

持国王说道：“三阇耶！我们竟使那位大威力、为世间奉持正法的父亲殒命，于是沉没在悲恸之中。纵然尚存性命，我们还剩下什么力量？使毗湿摩——世所共知的正义长者、无比英勇者——在战场上倒下之后，我们陷入哀伤，犹如欲渡彼岸的行旅，见自己的舟船沉入深水，便被绝望所吞没。”

Word by Word

• घातयित्वा: having caused to be slain
• Type: Verb
• Root: घातय् (णिच् of हन्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-प्रयोग (causative sense), —, —, —

• महावीर्य: O mighty-valor(ed one)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावीर्य
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पितरम्: father
• पितरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• लोकधार्मिकम्: righteous in the eyes of the world / world-renowned as righteous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोकधार्मिक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अगाधे: in (the) unfathomable
• अगाधे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अगाध
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सलिले: in water
• सलिले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• मग्नाम्: sunk, submerged
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मग्न
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• नावम्: boat
• नावम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नौ
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-प्रयोग, —, —, —

• इव: as if, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• पारगाः: those wishing to cross / would-be crossers
• पारगाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• संजय: O Sañjaya
• Type: Noun
• Root: संजय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• boat (nāva)
• deep water (agādha salila)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and psychological cost of adharma in war: when a revered, dharma-upholding elder is brought down through one’s own side’s choices, the victors themselves can be left inwardly powerless—like travelers who lose the very means (the boat) needed to cross danger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra speaks to Sañjaya after hearing of Bhīṣma’s fall. He mourns that, despite still being alive, the Kauravas feel bereft of strength and guidance, comparing their condition to would-be crossers who despair upon seeing their boat sunk in deep water.