Shloka 26
भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्
Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash
Devanagari script
स तैर्विद्धो महेष्वास: समन्तान्निशितै: शरै:
Transliteration
sa tair viddho maheṣvāsaḥ samantān niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
Translation
桑阇耶说道：那位大弓手被诸将从四面以锋利如剃刃的箭矢射中，浑身贯穿，却仍立于战阵拥挤之中——此景昭示：在战争里，即便强者也必须承受群体敌意与无休止进攻所带来的后果。
Word by Word
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तैःby those
तैः:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
विद्धःpierced, struck
विद्धः:
TypeAdjective
Rootविद् (वेधने)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
महेष्वासःthe great archer
महेष्वासः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहेष्वास
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
समन्तात्from all sides, all around
समन्तात्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसमन्तात्
निशितैःsharp, whetted
निशितैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootनिशित
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
शरैःwith arrows
शरैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaM
maheṣvāsa (the great archer, unnamed in this half-verse)A
arrows (śara)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The line underscores the harsh moral reality of war: prowess does not exempt one from suffering; when conflict escalates, collective aggression brings inevitable consequences, testing a warrior’s endurance and resolve.
Sañjaya describes a key combatant—identified only as a ‘great archer’ here—being hit by sharp arrows coming from every direction, indicating he is surrounded or heavily targeted in the battle.