Shloka 16

भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति उपालम्भः

Bhīṣma’s Reproof to Duryodhana

Devanagari script

भिन्नकुम्भान्‌ विरुधिरान्‌ भिन्नगात्रांश्ष वारणान्‌

Transliteration

bhinnakumbhān virudhirān bhinnagātrāṃś ca vāraṇān

Translation

三阇耶说道：“（他看见）有的战象太阳穴被劈裂，鲜血奔流；有的肢体粉碎——这是战斗无情暴烈的图景，战争的代价不仅由武士承担，也同样压在众生之身。”

Word by Word

• भिन्नकुम्भान्: with broken temples (forehead-bosses)
• भिन्नकुम्भान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्नकुम्भ (भिन्न + कुम्भ)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विरुधिरान्: blood-smeared / bloody
• विरुधिरान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरुधिर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• भिन्नगात्रान्: with broken limbs
• भिन्नगात्रान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्नगात्र (भिन्न + गात्र)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• वारणान्: elephants
• वारणान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• vāraṇa (war-elephants)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the grim reality of war: even powerful war-elephants are reduced to suffering bodies. It implicitly invites ethical reflection on the human and non-human cost of conflict, even when fought under the banner of duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the battlefield scene to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, highlighting elephants whose temples are split and bleeding and whose limbs are broken—vivid details that convey the intensity and devastation of the fighting.