Shloka 183

Vāg-yuddha and Nimitta-darśana before the Gadāyuddha

Verbal Duel and Omens

Devanagari script

बिश्रद्रूपं महाराज सदृशं हि गरुत्मत: । फिर तो भीमसेन कवच पहनकर बहुत बड़ी नोकवाली गदा हाथमें ले गरुडका-सा रूप धारण करके युद्धके लिये तैयार हो गये

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | viśradrūpaṃ mahārāja sadṛśaṃ hi garutmataḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: „O großer König, er nahm eine glänzende, furchterregende Gestalt an, wahrlich Garuḍa gleich.“ Da legte Bhīmasena den Harnisch an, ergriff eine gewaltige Keule mit scharfem Ende, nahm ein Aussehen wie Garuḍa an und rüstete sich zum Kampf.

Word by Word

• विश्रद्रूपम्: having a splendid/bright form
• विश्रद्रूपम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्रद्रूप
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सदृशम्: similar, like
• सदृशम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• गरुत्मतः: of Garuḍa
• गरुत्मतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुत्मत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Garuḍa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of kṣatriya resolve: in a righteous war narrative, taking up arms and adopting a fearsome, radiant bearing symbolizes readiness to perform one’s duty despite danger and sorrow.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a warrior has assumed a striking, Garuḍa-like appearance—an image of speed, power, and intimidation—signaling immediate preparation for combat.