Shloka 29

भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ६६: तुमुलसंग्रामवर्णनम्

The Tumult of Battle Described

Devanagari script

अविध्यदेनं दशभि: पृषत्कै- रलम्बुषो राक्षस5सौ तदानीम्‌ | शरैश्नतुर्भि: प्रतिविद्धय तं च नप्ता शिनेरभ्यपतद्‌ रथेन

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

avidhyad enaṃ daśabhiḥ pṛṣatkaiḥ

alambuṣo rākṣasaḥ sa tadānīm |

śaraiś caturbhiḥ pratividdhya taṃ ca

naptā śiner abhyapatad rathena ||

Translation

三阇耶说：当时罗刹阿兰布沙以十箭射伤了他。尸尼之孙随即以四矢贯穿那罗刹以为报复，继而登车冲杀向前——在战争既正当又无情的驱迫之中，以迅疾的还击继续推进战局。

Word by Word

• अविध्यत्: pierced, struck
• अविध्यत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध् (विध्)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, 3, singular

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (एतद्)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Karana
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: दशन्
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, plural

• पृषत्कैः: with arrows
• पृषत्कैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृषत्क
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• अलम्बुषः: Alambusha
• अलम्बुषः: Karta
• Type: Noun (proper)
• Root: अलम्बुष
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• राक्षसः: the demon
• राक्षसः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• अनीम्: at that time
• अनीम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनीम्

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• चतुर्भिः: with four
• चतुर्भिः: Karana
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: चतुर्
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, plural

• प्रतिविद्ध्य: having pierced in return
• प्रतिविद्ध्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रतिव्यध् (विध्)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), active

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

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

• नप्ता: grandson
• नप्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नप्तृ
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• शिनेः: of Shini
• शिनेः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun (proper)
• Root: शिनि
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• अभ्यपतत्: rushed upon, charged
• अभ्यपतत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + पत्
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, 3, singular

• रथेन: with a chariot
• रथेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Alambuṣa
• Rākṣasa
• Śini
• Śini's grandson (Abhimanyu)
• arrows (śara/pṛṣatka)
• chariot (ratha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos in battle: swift response to aggression, courage under attack, and disciplined engagement within the harsh necessities of war—where personal valor is exercised in service of one’s side and duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Alambuṣa, a Rākṣasa warrior, wounds a fighter with ten arrows. Śini’s grandson (Abhimanyu) immediately retaliates by piercing Alambuṣa with four arrows and then advances aggressively in his chariot to continue the fight.