Shloka 27

भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः

Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt

Devanagari script

माद्रेयौ चक्ररक्षौ तु फाल्गुनश्व॒ तदाकरोत्‌ सेनाग्रगो भीमसेन: सदाभूद्‌ गदया सह,उस समय अर्जुनने माद्रीकुमार नकुल और सहदेवको अपने रथके पहियोंका रक्षक बनाया, भीमसेन सदा गदा हाथमें लेकर सेनाके आगे-आगे चलते थे

Transliteration

mādreyau cakrarakṣau tu phālgunaś tadākarot | senāgrago bhīmasenaḥ sadābhūd gadayā saha ||

Translation

Da ernannte Phālguna (Arjuna) die beiden Söhne Mādrīs—Nakula und Sahadeva—zu Wächtern der Räder seines Wagens. Bhīmasena, stets die Keule in der Hand, zog an der Spitze des Heeres.

Word by Word

माद्रेयौthe two sons of Madri (Nakula and Sahadeva)

चand

चक्ररक्षौwheel-guards (protectors of the chariot wheels)

तुbut/indeed

फाल्गुनःPhalguna (Arjuna)

तत्that

अकरोत्made/appointed/did

सेनाग्रगःone who goes at the front of the army

भीमसेनःBhimasena (Bhima)

सदाalways

अभूत्was/became

गदयाwith a mace

सहtogether with

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Phālguna (Arjuna)

Nakula

Sahadeva

Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

Mace (gadā)

Chariot wheels (cakra)

Army (senā)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic organization in action: leaders assign responsibilities according to capability, and warriors uphold mutual protection. Readiness and discipline—symbolized by Bhīma advancing with mace in hand—support collective safety and righteous purpose.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna (Phālguna) arranges his immediate chariot defense by appointing Nakula and Sahadeva as wheel-guards, while Bhīma takes the forward position of the marching force, proceeding ahead of the army armed with his mace.