Shloka 1

Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

अपन करा बछ। अर 2 चतु:षष्टितमो<5 ध्याय: भीमसेन और घटोत्कचका पराक्रम

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | tato bhūriśravā rājan sātyakiṁ navaśiḥ śaraiḥ | prāvidhyad bhṛśa-saṁkruddhas totrair iva mahādvipam ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：大王啊！其时，布利湿罗婆斯被狂怒攫住，以九支箭射穿萨底耆，犹如以锋利的象钩刺逼巨象，使之受驱而行。此句昭示：战场之怒能将技艺化为残忍，使战争所放出的暴力愈加炽烈。

Word by Word

• संजयः: Sanjaya
• संजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• भूरिश्रवाः: Bhūrishravas
• भूरिश्रवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूरिश्रवस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सात्यकिम्: Sātyaki
• सात्यकिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्यकि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नवभिः: with nine
• नवभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• प्राविध्यत्: pierced, struck
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भृशम्: exceedingly, greatly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम्

• संक्रुद्धः: enraged
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संक्रुद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तोत्रैः: with goads
• तोत्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोत्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• इव: like, as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• महाद्विपम्: a great elephant
• महाद्विपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाद्विप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Bhūriśravas
• Sātyaki
• arrows (śara)
• elephant-goad/ankusha (totra)
• great elephant (mahādvipa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how intense anger (krodha) can drive a warrior to harsher action; even within kṣatriya duty, wrath escalates violence and clouds restraint, a recurring ethical concern in the Mahābhārata.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhūriśravas, enraged, shoots and pierces Sātyaki with nine arrows, comparing the assault to prodding a mighty elephant with hooks.