Shloka 21

Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa

Resolve for the Mace Duel

Devanagari script

मद्रराजस्य शल्यस्य भूरिश्रवस एव च | पुत्राणां भरतश्रेष्ठ शकुने: सौबलस्य च

Transliteration

madrarājasya śalyasya bhūriśravas eva ca | putrāṇāṃ bharataśreṣṭha śakuneḥ saubalasya ca

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: „O Bester der Bhāratas, (er nannte) die Söhne Śalyas, des Königs von Madra, ebenso Bhūriśravas und die Söhne Śakunīs, des Sohnes Subalas.“

Word by Word

मद्रराजस्यof the king of Madra

शल्यस्यof Shalya

भूरिश्रवसःof Bhurishravas

एवalso/indeed

चand

पुत्राणाम्of the sons

भरतश्रेष्ठO best of the Bharatas

शकुनेःof Shakuni

सौबलस्यthe son of Subala (patronymic), i.e., Shakuni's

चand

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sanjaya

Shalya

Madra

Bhurishravas

Shakuni

Subala

Bharata (dynastic reference)

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 functions as a narrative transition emphasizing accountability through lineage: warriors and their houses are named explicitly, underscoring that choices in war are borne not only by individuals but also by the reputations and consequences carried by families and allied clans.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya addresses Dhritarashtra (“best of the Bharatas”) and introduces a listing/account of the sons (forces or fallen) connected with key Kaurava-side figures—Shalya of Madra, Bhurishravas, and Shakuni (son of Subala)—as part of the ongoing war report in Shalya Parva.