Shloka 72

Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)

Devanagari script

ततः: श्रुतायुर्बलवान्‌ भीमाय निशितान्‌ शरान्‌

Transliteration

tataḥ śrutāyur balavān bhīmāya niśitān śarān

Translation

三阇耶说道：于是，强悍的舒鲁塔优向毗摩射出锋利如剃刃的利箭——使战斗的凶烈更甚，也彰显了武士之道：以正面强攻来展示技艺，与强敌当面相搏。

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययः), अर्थे: 'तस्मात्/अनन्तरम्'

• श्रुतायुः: Shrutayu (a warrior)
• श्रुतायुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुतायु (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• बलवान्: mighty/strong
• बलवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• भीमाय: to Bhima
• भीमाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्

• निशितान्: sharpened/keen
• निशितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śrutāyu
• Bhīma
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse reflects kṣatriya-dharma in wartime: warriors demonstrate courage and skill by confronting powerful opponents directly, even as such actions deepen the violence and moral tension inherent in battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the strong warrior Śrutāyu launches a volley of sharp arrows at Bhīma, marking an escalation in their combat within the Kurukṣetra war.