Shloka 36

Devanagari script

अलायुधस्य तु शिरो भैमसेनिर्महाबल: । दुर्योधनस्य प्रमुखे चिक्षेप गतचेतस:,उस समय दुर्योधन अचेत-सा हो रहा था। महाबली घटोत्कचने अलायुधका वह मस्तक दुर्योधनके सामने फेंक दिया

Transliteration

alāyudhasya tu śiro bhaimasenir mahābalaḥ | duryodhanasya pramukhe cikṣepa gatacetasaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Da schleuderte der überaus mächtige Sohn Bhīmasenas den abgeschlagenen Kopf Alāyudhas unmittelbar vor Duryodhana, der in betäubter Sinnlosigkeit dalag.

Word by Word

अलायुधस्यof Alayudha

तुbut/indeed

शिरःhead

भैमसेनिःBhaimaseni (son/descendant of Bhimasena; i.e., Ghaṭotkaca)

महाबलःmighty/very strong

दुर्योधनस्यof Duryodhana

प्रमुखेin front/presence

चand

चिक्षेपthrew/cast

गतचेतसःof (him) whose consciousness had gone; unconscious

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Alāyudha

Bhaimaseni (Ghaṭotkaca)

Bhīmasena

Duryodhana

Alāyudha's severed head

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how war often extends beyond physical combat into the realm of morale and intimidation. It implicitly warns that violence, even when strategically effective, hardens the ethical atmosphere of battle and deepens enmity—showing the tragic momentum that overtakes all sides.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the mighty Bhaimaseni (Ghaṭotkaca) has killed Alāyudha and throws his severed head before Duryodhana. Duryodhana is described as gatacetasaḥ—stunned or senseless—underscoring the shock and psychological impact on the Kaurava leader.