Shloka 39

Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa

Resolve for the Mace Duel

Devanagari script

ततः शैक्यायसीं गुर्वी जातरूपपरिष्कृताम्‌

Transliteration

tataḥ śaikyāyasīṃ gurvīṃ jātarūpapariṣkṛtām

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Dann erschien eine schwere Waffe aus Eisen, sorgfältig geschmiedet und mit Gold geschmückt—ein Bild der düsteren Handwerkskunst des Krieges, in der zerstörerische Macht nach außen hin glänzend gemacht wird.

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्ययम्

• शैक्यायसीम्: made of iron/steel
• शैक्यायसीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैक्यायसी (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• गुर्वीम्: heavy; weighty
• गुर्वीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुर्वी (गुरु-प्रातिपदिकस्य स्त्रीरूपम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• जातरूपपरिष्कृताम्: adorned/embellished with gold
• जातरूपपरिष्कृताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जातरूप-परिष्कृता (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• iron weapon/implement
• gold (jātarūpa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata motif: instruments of harm can be outwardly beautified, yet their essence remains destructive. It invites ethical reflection on how power and violence are often masked by splendor and craftsmanship.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya continues his battlefield narration by describing the emergence or presentation of a massive iron weapon/implement, notably finished and ornamented with gold, emphasizing its formidable and striking appearance.