Shloka 28

Droṇa’s Ācārya-Dakṣiṇā: Capture of Drupada and Division of Pāñcāla (द्रोण-आचार्यदक्षिणा)

Devanagari script

प्राणवान्‌ विक्रमी चैव शौर्येण महतान्वित: । स्पर्थते चापि सहितानस्मानेको वृकोदर:,“यह बलवान्‌ और पराक्रमी तो है ही, महान्‌ शौर्यसे भी सम्पन्न है। भीमसेन अकेला ही हम सब लोगोंसे होड़ बद लेता है

Transliteration

prāṇavān vikramī caiva śauryeṇa mahatānvitāḥ | spardhate cāpi sahitān asmān eko vṛkodaraḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Er ist voller Lebenskraft und wahrhaft tapfer, mit großem Heldentum begabt. Vṛkodara (Bhīma) allein kann es mit uns allen aufnehmen, selbst wenn wir geschlossen beisammenstehen.“

Word by Word

प्राणवान्possessing life/vitality

विक्रमीvaliant, heroic

चand

एवindeed, certainly

शौर्येणby/with valor

महताgreat (with great)

अन्वितःendowed (with)

स्पर्धतेcompetes, vies

चand

अपिalso, even

सहितान्together, united (as a group)

अस्मान्us

एकःalone, single

वृकोदरःVṛkodara (Bhīma)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Vṛkodara (Bhīma/Bhīmasena)

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 exemplary vigor and courage: true prowess is measured not merely by boasting but by the capacity to stand against many with steadfast strength. It also reflects the epic’s admiration for kṣatriya qualities—energy (prāṇa), valor (vikrama), and heroism (śaurya).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Bhīma (Vṛkodara) as extraordinarily powerful—so formidable that he can compete with or match an entire group even when they are united—thereby emphasizing his dominance among warriors in the surrounding context.