Shloka 20

भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ९६: सौभद्रस्य आक्रमणम्, अलम्बुसस्य प्रतिविधानम्

Abhimanyu’s assault; Alambusa’s counter-engagement

Devanagari script

नानारूपाणि शस्त्राणि विसृजन्तो महारथा:

Transliteration

nānārūpāṇi śastrāṇi visṛjanto mahārathāḥ

Translation

三阇耶说道：“那些大车战士抛掷各类兵刃，使战斗不断向前推进。”

Word by Word

• नाना: various, manifold
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना
• Form: indeclinable (adverbial/attributive usage)

• रूपाणि: forms, kinds
• रूपाणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, plural

• शस्त्राणि: weapons
• शस्त्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र
• Form: neuter, accusative, plural

• विसृजन्तः: releasing, discharging, hurling
• विसृजन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-सृज्
• Form: present active participle (शतृ), masculine, nominative, plural

• महारथाः: great chariot-warriors
• महारथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• śastra (weapons)
• mahāratha (great chariot-warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the intensity and variety of warfare led by elite warriors; ethically, it frames battle as a sphere where trained kṣatriyas enact their role, while also reminding the listener of the destructive momentum that arises when martial power is unleashed.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the foremost chariot-fighters are actively discharging many kinds of weapons, indicating a fierce escalation and sustained exchange of arms on the battlefield.