Shloka 33

भीष्मभीमसमागमः — Bhīṣma–Bhīma Strategic Engagement and Counsel to the King

Devanagari script

ततो राजसमूहास्ते परिवद्रुर्थनंजयम्‌

Transliteration

tato rājasamūhās te parivadruḥ dhanañjayam

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then those gathered kings and royal hosts surrounded Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), closing in upon him as the battle’s pressure mounted.

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from that/then')

• राजसमूहाः: groups of kings
• राजसमूहाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजसमूह
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• ते: those (they)
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• परिवद्रुः: reviled; spoke ill of
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + वद्
• Form: Aorist (luṅ), parasmaipada, 3rd person, plural

• अर्जुनम्: Arjuna
• अर्जुनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• kings (rājas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical pressure of warfare: when many forces converge on one person, dharma is tested through steadiness, courage, and disciplined action rather than panic or collapse.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that groups of kings/royal troops move in and surround Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), indicating a tactical encirclement or concentrated attack against him in the battle.