Shloka 37

भीष्मसेनासंनिवेशः — Bhīṣma’s Mobilization, Omens, and the Kaurava Array

Devanagari script

गजस्कन्धगतावास्तां भगदत्तेन सम्मितौ । विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ केतुमन्तमनुव्रती,इसी प्रकार श्रेष्ठ गजराजपर आरूढ़ हो राजा भगदत्त भी वज्रधारी इन्द्रके समान अपने तेजसे उद्दीप्त हो युद्धके लिये आगे बढ़ गये थे। अवन्तिदेशके राजकुमार विन्द और अनुविन्द भी भगदत्तके समान ही तेजस्वी थे। वे दोनों भाई हाथीकी पीठपर बैठकर केतुमानके पीछे-पीछे चल रहे थे

Transliteration

gajaskandhagatāv āstāṃ bhagadattena sammitau | vindānuvindāv āvantyau ketumantam anuvratī ||

Translation

সঞ্জয় বললেন—অবন্তির বিন্দ ও অনুবিন্দ, পরাক্রমে ভগদত্তের তুল্য, মহাহস্তীর কাঁধে আরোহণ করে কেতুমানের পশ্চাতে পশ্চাতে যুদ্ধে অগ্রসর হলেন।

Word by Word

गजof the elephant

स्कन्धon the shoulder/back

गतौgone; mounted; having gone onto

आस्ताम्they two were / sat

भगदत्तेनby/with Bhagadatta

सम्मितौequal to; comparable with

विन्दVinda

अनुविन्दौAnuvinda (and Vinda) / the two (Vinda and Anuvinda)

आवन्त्यौAvanti princes; belonging to Avanti

केतुमन्तम्Ketumant (proper name)

अनुव्रतीfollowing; attendant upon

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhagadatta

Vindā

Anuvindā

Avanti

Ketumān

elephants

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya ethos in wartime: personal prowess is joined to disciplined allegiance. Valor is shown not only by strength (elephant-mounted advance) but also by orderly following of one’s commander, reflecting duty-bound participation in the larger formation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes battlefield movement: Vindā and Anuvindā, princes of Avanti, ride elephants and proceed to war. They are said to be comparable to Bhagadatta in might and are depicted as following behind Ketumān in the advancing ranks.