Shloka 24

भीमसेन-दुर्योधन-समागमः

Bhīmasena–Duryodhana Engagement at Sunset

Devanagari script

तामापतन्तीं सहसा रुक्मदण्डां दुरासदाम्‌ | चिच्छेद समरे भीष्म: शरै: संनतपर्वभि:

Transliteration

tām āpatantīṃ sahasā rukmadaṇḍāṃ durāsadām | ciccheda samare bhīṣmaḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：那柄难以抵挡、金柄的利器骤然飞至之时，战阵中不可撼动的毗湿摩以关节坚固的箭矢，在交锋之中将其截断。

Word by Word

• ताम्: her/that (woman/one)
• ताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आपतन्तीम्: falling/charging (towards)
• आपतन्तीम्: Karma
• Type: Verb-derived adjective (participle)
• Root: आपत् (धातु: पत्/आपत्)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular, Present active participle (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय)

• सहसा: suddenly, swiftly
• सहसा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा

• रुक्मदण्डाम्: having a golden staff/rod
• रुक्मदण्डाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: रुक्मदण्डा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• दुरासदाम्: hard to approach/assail
• दुरासदाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरासदा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• चिच्छेद: cut, severed
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun (proper name)
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• संनतपर्वभिः: having well-bent joints/knots (of the shaft)
• संनतपर्वभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संनतपर्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• rukmadaṇḍā (gold-shafted weapon/missile)
• śara (arrows)
• samara (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined, precise force: a warrior’s excellence lies in controlled skill that neutralizes imminent harm efficiently, reflecting kṣatriya-dharma as protection and restraint rather than mere aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

A formidable, golden-shafted missile/weapon suddenly rushes toward the combatants; Bhīṣma, in the thick of battle, severs it with well-made arrows, demonstrating superior archery and battlefield composure.