Shloka 30

भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति उपालम्भः

Bhīṣma’s Reproof to Duryodhana

Devanagari script

एवमुकक्‍्त्वा तु हैडिम्बो महद्‌ विस्फार्य कार्मुकम्‌

Transliteration

evam uktvā tu haiḍimbo mahad visphārya kārmukam, duryodhanam prati bāṇānāṃ mahāṃ vṛṣṭim avāsṛjat; yathā varṣā-ṛtau meghaḥ parvata-śikhare jaladhārāḥ pātayati.

Translation

三阇耶说道：“说罢，希丁芭之子将巨弓拉至满月之势，向杜律约陀那倾泻出骇人的箭雨——恰如雨季的云团把道道水流倾注在山巅。此景昭示战阵之势不可遏止：武艺与决心一旦发作，便化作压倒性的力量；而野心与仇怨的后果，也必在战争严酷的法则中被承担。”

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्त्वा: having said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), active, prior action

• तु: but/then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• हैडिम्बः: Haidimba (Ghaṭotkaca)
• हैडिम्बः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हैडिम्ब
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• महत्: great/huge
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• विस्फार्य: having stretched/drawn
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्फुर्/स्फार् (विस्फारयति)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), active, prior action

• कार्मुकम्: bow
• कार्मुकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्मुक
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• हैडिम्ब / हिडिम्बाकुमार (Haiḍimba; son of Hiḍimbā = Ghaṭotkaca)
• दुर्योधन (Duryodhana)
• कार्मुक (bow)
• बाण (arrows)
• मेघ (cloud)
• पर्वतशिखर (mountain peak)
• वर्षा-ऋतु (rainy season/monsoon)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how, in war, intent and capability translate into decisive action; it also implicitly warns that hostility and ambition invite powerful counterforce. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring theme that choices made in adharma-driven rivalry culminate in unavoidable, escalating violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Ghaṭotkaca (the son of Hiḍimbā) drawing his great bow and releasing a massive volley of arrows at Duryodhana, compared to monsoon clouds pouring water on a mountain summit.