Shloka 11

Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

पीडयित्वा तु राजानं शरैराशीविषोपमै: । अभ्यधावत्‌ पुनर्भीम शरवर्षैरवाकिरत्‌

Transliteration

pīḍayitvā tu rājānaṃ śarair āśīviṣopamaiḥ | abhyadhāvat punaḥ bhīmaḥ śaravarṣair avākirat ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：他以如毒蛇般的箭矢折磨那位国王之后，毗摩又再度冲上前去，以箭雨倾泻其身。

Word by Word

• पीडयित्वा: having pained/afflicted
• पीडयित्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: पीड्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि, सकर्मक

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

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• आशीविषोपमैः: like venomous serpents
• आशीविषोपमैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशीविषोपम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अभ्यधावत्: ran up/charged
• अभ्यधावत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-धाव्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• भीमः: Bhima
• भीमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शरवर्षैः: with showers of arrows
• शरवर्षैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरवर्ष
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अवाकिरत्: covered/sprinkled (him) over; showered upon
• अवाकिरत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-किॄ
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• भीम (Bhīma)
• राजा (the king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the intensity of kṣatriya warfare: once advantage is gained, a warrior presses forward with unwavering force. Ethically, it also invites reflection on how duty-driven action in war can be relentless and effective, yet inseparable from suffering inflicted on others.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Bhīma wounding and harassing a king with deadly arrows, then charging again and overwhelming him with a sustained barrage—an escalating attack meant to break the opponent’s resistance.