Shloka 29

Daśame’hani Bhīṣma-yuddham — Śikhaṇḍī-rakṣaṇa, Arjuna-prabhāva, Duryodhana-āśraya-vākyam

Devanagari script

भीमस्तु रथिनां श्रेष्ठो गदां गृह्ा महाहवे

Transliteration

bhīmas tu rathināṃ śreṣṭho gadāṃ gṛhya mahāhave

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Bhīma, der Vortrefflichste unter den Wagenkämpfern, ergriff in jener großen Schlacht seine Keule—ein Zeichen seines Entschlusses, der Gewalt mit disziplinierter Stärke zu begegnen, im Dienst der Pflicht (Dharma) seiner Seite trotz der moralischen Last des Krieges.

Word by Word

• भीमः: Bhima
• भीमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• रथिनाम्: of chariot-warriors
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• श्रेष्ठः: the best
• श्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गदाम्: mace
• गदाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• गृह्य: having taken/seizing
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• महाहवे: in the great battle
• महाहवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाहव
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīma
• gadā (mace)
• mahāhava (great battle)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights readiness for righteous action within one’s role: Bhīma’s taking up the mace represents disciplined force employed as a kṣatriya obligation in a war framed by dharma, even when the ethical atmosphere is heavy.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Bhīma, renowned among chariot-fighters, grasping his mace on the battlefield—an immediate preparation for close combat and a cue that a fierce engagement is about to unfold.