Shloka 59

Devanagari script

व्यधमद्‌ द्विषत: संख्ये खगराडिव पन्नगान्‌ | देहान्‌ सुनिशितैर्भल्लै रिपूर्णां नाशयन्‌ क्षणात्‌

Transliteration

vyadhamad dviṣataḥ saṅkhye khagarāḍ iva pannagān | dehān suniśitair bhallaiḥ ripūṇāṃ nāśayan kṣaṇāt ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：在战阵拥迫之中，他击溃诸敌，如鸟王迦楼罗扑杀群蛇。以锋利如刃的箭镞，他顷刻间毁灭仇敌之躯——此乃战争无情奔涌之象：武勇以迅疾而决断的伤害为度，而非以慈悲为衡。

Word by Word

• व्यधमत्: he struck/beat down
• व्यधमत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यधम् (धातु: ध्मा/ध्मा॒—ध्मा ध्माने; here in sense of 'to strike/beat down')
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• द्विषतः: enemies
• द्विषतः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विषत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• संख्ये: in battle
• संख्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संख्या
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• खगराट्: the king of birds (Garuḍa)
• खगराट्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: खगराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• पन्नगान्: serpents
• पन्नगान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पन्नग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• देहान्: bodies
• देहान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सुनिशितैः: with very sharp
• सुनिशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुनिशित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• भल्लैः: arrows (bhalla-shafts)
• भल्लैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भल्ल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• रिपूर्णाम्: enemies
• रिपूर्णाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नाशयन्: destroying
• नाशयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नाशय (धातु: नश्/नश्—नाशने; causative)
• Form: Śatṛ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्षणात्: in an instant
• क्षणात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• खगराट् / गरुड (Khagarāṭ / Garuḍa)
• पन्नग (serpents)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s stark portrayal of kṣatriya warfare: skill and speed can annihilate opponents instantly. Ethically, it underscores the tension between duty in war and the human cost—valor is celebrated, yet the imagery also reminds the listener of war’s merciless nature.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates a warrior’s overwhelming assault in the battlefield, comparing him to Garuḍa preying on serpents. Using extremely sharp arrows, he rapidly kills or disables many enemies.