Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

धृतराष्ट्रस्य दायादा इति बीभत्सुरब्रवीत्‌ | भीमसेनं तदा राजन्‌ दर्शयस्व महाबलम्‌

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭrasya dāyādā iti bībhatsur abravīt | bhīmasenaṃ tadā rājan darśayasva mahābalam |

Translation

Sañjaya said: Arjuna (Bībhatsu) spoke, pointing them out: “These are the heirs of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.” Then, O King, he addressed Bhīmasena and urged him, “Now show these foes your mighty strength.” In that moment, kinship is acknowledged even as duty calls for decisive action in a war waged for dharma.

Word by Word

• धृतराष्ट्रस्य: of Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• धृतराष्ट्रस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• दायादाः: heirs/sons (claimants)
• दायादाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दायाद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• इति: thus/so (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• बीभत्सुः: Arjuna (the dreadful one)
• बीभत्सुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीभत्सु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

• भीमसेनम्: Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• भीमसेनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तदा: then/at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• दर्शयस्व: show (yourself/show)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Imperative (Loṭ), 2nd, Singular, Ātmanepada

• महाबलम्: great strength/mighty power
• महाबलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Arjuna (Bībhatsu)
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Kauravas (Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons/heirs)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when opponents are one’s own kin, a warrior committed to dharma must act with clarity and resolve. Naming them as “Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s heirs” underscores the tragedy of familial war, yet the call to Bhīma to display strength reflects the necessity of firm action when righteousness requires it.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Arjuna identifies the opposing side as Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s heirs (the Kauravas) and then urges Bhīma to demonstrate his might against them, signaling readiness for battle and rallying force before engagement.