Shloka 16

Bhīmasena’s Kalinga Engagement and the Approach of Bhīṣma (भीमसेन-कालिङ्ग-संग्रामः)

Devanagari script

महाराज! हाथियोंके पैरोंकी रक्षा करनेवाले योद्धा

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | rājamāṇāś ca nistriṁśāḥ saṁsiktā naraśoṇitaiḥ | pratyadṛśyanta śūrāṇām anyonyam abhidhāvatām ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：大王啊，当群雄彼此冲杀之时，他们闪耀的长剑可见尽染人血。

Word by Word

• राजमानाः: shining, gleaming
• राजमानाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजमान (√राज् + शानच्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• निस्त्रिंशाः: swords
• निस्त्रिंशाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: निस्त्रिंश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• संसिक्ताः: smeared, drenched
• संसिक्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसिक्त (सम् + √सिच् + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नरशोणितैः: with human blood
• नरशोणितैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरशोणित
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• प्रत्यदृश्यन्त: were seen, appeared
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + √दृश्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Ātmanepada

• शूराणाम्: of the heroes
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अन्योन्यम्: each other
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य

• अभिधावताम्: of (those) running towards (one another)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + √धाव्
• Form: Present active participle (Śatṛ), Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (addressed as King)
• nistriṁśa (sword)
• naraśoṇita (human blood)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse offers a stark ethical reminder: even when warriors act within the frame of kṣatriya-duty, war’s visible reality is bloodshed. It highlights the cost of anger and rivalry, tempering any romantic view of heroism with the truth of suffering inflicted.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that warriors are charging at each other in close combat, and their bright swords are visibly stained with human blood—an image emphasizing the intensity and brutality of the fighting.