Shloka 42

Rajo-dhūli-saṃmūḍha-saṅgrāmaḥ

The Dust-Obscured Battle and Mutual Charges

Devanagari script

पज्चालानथ मत्स्यांश्व केकयांश्व प्रभद्रकान्‌ | भीष्म: प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठ; पातयामास पत्रिभि:,योद्धाओंमें श्रेष्ठ भीष्म पांचाल, मत्स्य, केकय तथा प्रभद्रक वीरोंको अपने बाणोंसे मार-मारकर गिराने लगे

Transliteration

Pañcālān atha Matsyāṁś ca Kekayāṁś ca Prabhadrakān | Bhīṣmaḥ praharatāṁ śreṣṭhaḥ pātayāmāsa patribhiḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：于是毗湿摩——战阵中出手最为凌厉者——猛攻般遮罗、摩蹉、计迦耶以及普罗婆陀罗迦诸勇士，以箭矢一再射倒之。

Word by Word

• पाञ्चालान्: the Panchalas
• पाञ्चालान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चाल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• मत्स्यान्: the Matsyas
• मत्स्यान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• केकयान्: the Kekayas
• केकयान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: केकय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• प्रभद्रकान्: the Prabhadrakas
• प्रभद्रकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभद्रक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• प्रहरताम्: of those who strike/fight
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हृ
• Form: Present participial genitive plural (Śatṛ-like usage as verbal adjective), Plural

• श्रेष्ठः: the best
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पातयामास: caused to fall; felled
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (causative: पातय-)
• Form: Perfect (periphrastic), 3rd, Singular

• पत्रिभिः: with arrows
• पत्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्रिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• Pañcāla
• Matsya
• Kekaya
• Prabhadraka
• arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the battlefield face of kṣatriya-dharma: martial excellence applied as duty can become a sweeping, impersonal force that brings mass suffering. It invites reflection on how ‘skill’ and ‘righteous role’ in war still carry grave ethical weight and consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma, leading the Kaurava side, attacks allied divisions of the Pāṇḍavas—Pañcālas, Matsyas, Kekayas, and Prabhadrakas—and knocks many warriors down with volleys of arrows.