Shloka 326

Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)

Devanagari script

चिच्छेद सहसा राजन्नसम्भ्रान्तो वरासिना । राजन! वे तोमर अभी भीमसेनतक पहुँच ही नहीं पाये थे कि उन महाबाहु पाण्डुकुमारने बिना किसी घबराहटके अपनी अच्छी तलवारसे सहसा उन्हें आकाशमें ही काट डाला

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | ciccheda sahasā rājann asambhrānto varāsinā |

Translation

Sañjaya said: O King, without losing composure, he swiftly cut them down in mid-air with his excellent sword. The javelins had not yet reached Bhīmasena when that mighty-armed son of Pāṇḍu, unshaken by fear, severed them—showing alertness, self-control, and disciplined skill amid the violence of war.

Word by Word

• चिच्छेद: cut, severed
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद्
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), 3, singular, परस्मैपद

• सहसा: suddenly, at once
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• असम्भ्रान्तः: unperturbed, unconfused
• असम्भ्रान्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असम्भ्रान्त
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• वरासिना: with an excellent sword
• वरासिना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरासि
• Form: feminine, instrumental, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Bhīmasena
• Pāṇḍu (as 'son of Pāṇḍu')
• tomara (javelins/spears)
• asi (sword)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in extreme conflict, the ideal warrior acts with steadiness (asambhrānta), using trained discernment and restraint rather than fear-driven impulse; composure becomes an ethical strength that prevents reckless harm.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that incoming tomara-weapons had not yet reached Bhīma when the mighty Pāṇḍava, remaining calm, swiftly sliced them apart in the air with his sword.