Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 38

Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57

Devanagari script

दृष्टवा व्यवस्थितं भीम॑ तव पुत्रो महाबल:

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā vyavasthitaṃ bhīmaṃ tava putro mahābalaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing Bhīma standing firmly in battle array, your son—mighty in strength—(was stirred to respond). The line highlights how the sight of steadfast resolve in a righteous opponent can provoke decisive action, intensifying the moral and martial pressure of the war.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), परस्मैपद-भावार्थ (absolutive usage)

• व्यवस्थितम्: standing firm / arrayed / stationed
• व्यवस्थितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यवस्थित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भीमम्: Bhima
• भीमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाबलः: mighty/very strong
• महाबलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīma
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by 'tava')
• Duryodhana (implied by 'tava putraḥ')

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Steadfastness in one’s chosen duty (especially in a kṣatriya context) has moral force: it can steady allies and unsettle opponents. The verse underscores how visible resolve becomes an ethical and psychological factor in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, upon seeing Bhīma firmly positioned and ready, Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (Duryodhana) reacts—signaling a turn toward confrontation as the battle’s tension escalates.