Shloka 12

भीष्मपतनविषये धृतराष्ट्रस्य प्रश्नाः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Questions on Bhīṣma’s Fall

Devanagari script

दुःशासन रथास्तूर्ण युज्यन्तां भीष्मरक्षिण: | अनीकानि च सर्वाणि शीघ्र त्वमनुचोदय

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | duḥśāsana rathās tūrṇaṃ yujyantāṃ bhīṣmarakṣiṇaḥ | anīkāni ca sarvāṇi śīghraṃ tvam anucodaya ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：“度沙萨那，立刻将护卫毗湿摩的战车套上战马。并催促各个战阵迅速行动——传令诸军不得迟延，尽皆整备，以护卫他。”

Word by Word

• दुःशासन: O Duhshasana
• दुःशासन: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःशासन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• रथाः: chariots
• रथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तूर्णम्: quickly
• तूर्णम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्णम्

• युज्यन्ताम्: let (them) be yoked / be made ready
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज्
• Form: Lot (Imperative/benedictive sense), Atmanepada, Third, Plural, Passive (karmani)

• भीष्म-रक्षिणः: protecting Bhishma / Bhishma-guarding
• भीष्म-रक्षिणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीष्मरक्षिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अनीकानि: battle-formations / divisions (of the army)
• अनीकानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

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

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्रम्

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अनुचोदय: urge / command / prompt
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-चुद्
• Form: Lot (Imperative), Parasmaipada, Second, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duḥśāsana
• Bhīṣma
• chariots (ratha)
• battle-formations/divisions (anīka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of organized responsibility in war: safeguarding the commander (Bhīṣma) and ensuring disciplined, prompt execution of orders. It underscores that power and leadership in battle require coordinated protection and readiness, not mere valor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports an urgent command directed to Duḥśāsana: immediately prepare the chariots assigned to Bhīṣma’s defense and press all military divisions to assemble swiftly for protecting Bhīṣma amid the unfolding battle.