Shloka 18

Devanagari script

उदीर्णाश्वगजा सेना सर्वक्षत्रस्य भारत । त्वां समासाद्य निधनं गता भीम॑ च भारत

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

udīrṇāśvagajā senā sarvakṣatrasya bhārata |

tvāṁ samāsādya nidhanaṁ gatā bhīmaṁ ca bhārata ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: O Bhārata! Das Heer des gesamten Kriegerstandes, reich an feurigen Rossen und mächtigen Elefanten, stieß auf dich und Bhīma — und ging zugrunde.

Word by Word

• उदीर्ण: raised, excited, impetuous
• उदीर्ण: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-ईर्ण (√ईर्/√ईर्-प्रेरणे; past passive participle sense)
• Form: feminine, nominative, singular

• अश्व: horses
• अश्व: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• गजा: elephants
• गजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• सेना: army
• सेना: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना
• Form: feminine, nominative, singular

• सर्व: of all
• सर्व: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• क्षत्रस्य: of the Kshatriya order / warriors
• क्षत्रस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्र
• Form: neuter, genitive, singular

• भारत: O Bharata (descendant of Bharata)
• भारत: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• समासाद्य: having approached/reached
• समासाद्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√सद्
• Form: absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)

• निधनम्: destruction, death
• निधनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधन
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• गता: went; came to (i.e., met with)
• गता: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (गत)
• Form: feminine, nominative, singular

• भीमम्: Bhima
• भीमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• भारत: O Bharata
• भारत: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Bharata (addressed as Dhritarashtra)
• Bhima (Bhimasena)
• Kshatriyas (warrior host)
• Army
• Horses
• Elephants

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Mere numerical strength and martial resources (horses, elephants, a vast Kshatriya host) do not guarantee victory; when driven by arrogance and set against superior valor and determination, they can culminate in collective ruin—highlighting the ethical warning against pride in power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that a large, formidable army—rich in cavalry and elephants—advanced to confront him (the Bharata king’s side is being addressed) and Bhima, and upon meeting them was destroyed, emphasizing the intensity and decisiveness of the clash.