Shloka 30

Adhyāya 35 — Bhīmasena’s Counter-Encirclement and the Karṇa Engagement Escalation

Devanagari script

यदा द्रक्ष्यसि भीमेन कुज्जरानीकमाहवे

Transliteration

yadā drakṣyasi bhīmena kuñjarānīkam āhave

Translation

Śalya sprach: „Wenn du mitten in der Schlacht siehst, wie Bhīma das Elefantenheer zerschmettert, dann wirst du das wahre Gewicht seiner Macht erkennen und die Gefahr, einen gerechten Zorn zu unterschätzen, der im Krieg entfesselt ist.“

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा

• द्रक्ष्यसि: you will see
• द्रक्ष्यसि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Lṛṭ (simple future), 2, singular, Parasmaipada

• भीमेन: by Bhima
• भीमेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• कुञ्जर-अनीकम्: the elephant-corps/elephant-host
• कुञ्जर-अनीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुञ्जर + अनीक
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• आहवे: in battle
• आहवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śalya
• Bhīma
• elephant-corps (kuñjarānīka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse warns against complacency in war: true strength is known by direct encounter, and pride that dismisses an opponent invites ruin. It also underscores the ethical seriousness of battle—might, once unleashed, has irreversible consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śalya addresses his listener (contextually, within the Karṇa Parva exchanges) and points to a coming battlefield sight: Bhīma confronting and overwhelming an elephant-division. The line functions as a forewarning meant to correct misjudgment about Bhīma’s capacity in combat.