Shloka 676

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

Devanagari script

श्रुतायुषमभिप्रेक्ष्य भीमसेन: समभ्ययात्‌ | भरतश्रेष्ठ) कलिंगसेनाके अग्रभागमें राजा श्रुतायुको देखकर भीमसेन उसका सामना करनेके लिये आगे बढ़े

Transliteration

śrutāyuṣam abhiprekṣya bhīmasenaḥ samabhyayāt |

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing Śrutāyu, Bhīmasena advanced straight toward him, intent on meeting him in battle. O best of the Bharatas, when Bhīmasena beheld King Śrutāyu at the head of the Kalinga host, he stepped forward to confront him.

Word by Word

• श्रुतायुषम्: Shrutayu (as object: him)
• श्रुतायुषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुतायु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभिप्रेक्ष्य: having looked at / seeing
• अभिप्रेक्ष्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-प्रेक्ष्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• भीमसेनः: Bhimasena
• भीमसेनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समभ्ययात्: approached / went towards
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अभि-या
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Śrutāyu
• Kaliṅga-senā (Kalinga army)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in wartime: a warrior, upon recognizing an opposing champion, steps forward to meet him directly, embodying resolve, responsibility, and fearlessness in the face of conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Bhīma, seeing King Śrutāyu positioned at the forefront of the Kaliṅga forces, advances toward him to engage—setting up a direct confrontation between the two.