Shloka 17

भीष्मस्य मध्याह्नयुद्धवर्णनम् / Mid-day Battle Description: Bhīṣma Engaged by the Pāñcālas

Devanagari script

ततः शान्तनवो भीष्म: कृपश्च रथिनां वर: । भगदत्त: सुशर्मा च धनंजयमुपाद्रवन्‌,तत्पश्चात्‌ शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्म, रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ कृपाचार्य, भगदत्त और सुशर्माने अर्जुनपर धावा किया

Transliteration

tataḥ śāntanavo bhīṣmaḥ kṛpaś ca rathināṁ varaḥ | bhagadattaḥ suśarmā ca dhanañjayam upādravan ||

Translation

三阇耶说：继而，善檀奴之子毗湿摩与车战之最的克利帕，又有婆伽达多与苏舍尔摩，一齐向檀那阇耶（阿周那）发起冲击。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: true

• शान्तनवः: the son of Śantanu
• शान्तनवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्तनव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीष्मः: Bhīṣma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कृपः: Kṛpa
• कृपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: true

• रथिनाम्: of chariot-warriors
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वरः: the best, excellent
• वरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भगदत्तः: Bhagadatta
• भगदत्तः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगदत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुशर्मा: Suśarmā
• सुशर्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुशर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: true

• धनंजयम्: Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उपाद्रवन्: attacked, rushed upon
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-√द्रु (द्रु गतौ)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Past, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• Śāntanu
• Kṛpa (Kṛpācārya)
• Bhagadatta
• Suśarmā
• Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension of kṣatriya-dharma in war: even venerable figures and respected teachers may be compelled by vows, allegiance, and royal duty to fight fiercely. It invites reflection on how personal virtue operates within binding social and political obligations.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma, Kṛpa, Bhagadatta, and Suśarmā collectively rush to attack Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), marking a concentrated assault by prominent Kaurava-side warriors against a key Pāṇḍava champion.