Shloka 16

Devanagari script

भीमार्जुना भ्यां योधाभ्यामास्थित: कृष्णसारथि: । शुशुभे रथवर्योडसौ दुर्जय: सर्वधन्विभि:

Transliteration

bhīmārjunābhyāṁ yodhābhyām āsthitaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ | śuśubhe rathavaryo 'sau durjayaḥ sarvadhanvibhiḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Während Bhīma und Arjuna darauf standen als kriegerische Beschützer, erstrahlte jener vortreffliche Wagen—von Kṛṣṇa gelenkt—in glänzender Pracht. Von solchen Helden bewacht, erschien er allen Bogenschützen unbezwingbar und verströmte nicht nur Macht, sondern auch jene sittliche Zuversicht, die entsteht, wenn Tapferkeit an disziplinierte Führung gespannt wird.

Word by Word

भीमby Bhima

अर्जुनाभ्याम्by Arjuna (together with Bhima)

योधाभ्याम्by the two warriors

आस्थितःmounted/occupied (having taken position)

कृष्णसारथिःKrishna as charioteer

शुशुभेshone/was splendid

रथवर्यःthe excellent chariot

असौthat (yonder)

दुर्जयःunconquerable

सर्वधन्विभिःby all archers/bowmen

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīma

Arjuna

Kṛṣṇa

chariot (ratha)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how strength becomes truly formidable when coordinated: the chariot’s invincibility is attributed to the combined presence of elite protectors (Bhīma and Arjuna) and steady guidance (Kṛṣṇa as charioteer). Ethically, it suggests that power gains legitimacy and effectiveness when aligned with disciplined leadership and righteous purpose.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes a particular chariot in the assembly-era events: Bhīma and Arjuna are positioned as its warrior defenders, while Kṛṣṇa serves as its charioteer. The chariot is portrayed as radiant and practically unconquerable in the eyes of all archers, emphasizing the formidable alliance and readiness for conflict.