Shloka 11

Chapter 19: Prativyūha of the Pāṇḍavas — Vajra (Acala) Formation and Dawn Omens

Devanagari script

'जैसे देवता देवराजका आश्रय लेकर निर्भय हो जाते हैं, उसी प्रकार हमलोग योद्धाओंमें श्रेष्ठ भीमसेनका आश्रय लेंगे। ये हमारे लिये परकोटेका काम करेंगे। फिर हमें कहींसे कोई भय नहीं रह जायगा

Transliteration

yathā devatā devarājasya āśrayaṃ labdhvā nirbhayā bhavanti, tathā vayam api yoddheṣu śreṣṭhasya bhīmasenasya āśrayaṃ gṛhīṣyāmaḥ. sa asmākaṃ parikhāyāḥ (parakoṭasya) kāryaṃ kariṣyati. tataḥ asmākaṃ kutas-cid api bhayaṃ na avaśiṣyate.

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Just as the gods, taking refuge in the Lord of the gods, become fearless, so too shall we take refuge in Bhīmasena, the foremost among warriors. He will serve as our protective rampart; then no fear from any quarter will remain for us.”

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• देवराजस्य: of the king of gods (Indra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवराज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• आश्रयम्: refuge, shelter
• आश्रयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• निर्भयाः: fearless
• निर्भयाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भवन्ति: become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Present, Indicative, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• तथा: so, in the same way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Plural

• योद्धृश्रेष्ठस्य: of the best among warriors
• Type: Noun
• Root: योद्धृश्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• भीमसेनस्य: of Bhimasena
• Type: ProperNoun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• आश्रयम्: refuge, shelter
• आश्रयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• गमिष्यामः: we shall go (take resort)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Future, Indicative, First, Plural, Parasmaipada

• एते: these (men)
• एते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अस्माकम्: for us / of us
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Plural

• परकोटवत्: like a rampart/fortification
• Type: Noun
• Root: परकोट
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular, used with -वत् as an indeclinable-like comparative

• भविष्यन्ति: will be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Future, Indicative, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• अस्माकम्: for us / of us
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Plural

• कुतश्चित्: from anywhere, from any quarter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुतः + चित्

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• भविष्यति: will be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Future, Indicative, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Devatāḥ (the gods)
• Devarāja (Indra)
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Fearlessness is portrayed as arising from taking refuge in a superior protector—divine (Indra for the gods) or human (Bhīma for the warriors). The verse highlights the ethical-psychological role of trust in capable leadership as a stabilizing force amid crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a tactical and morale-based reliance on Bhīmasena, presenting him as a living fortification for his side. The comparison to the gods sheltered by Indra underscores Bhīma’s perceived power to secure the army against threats from any direction.