Shloka 28

भीमकर्णसमागमः | Bhīma–Karṇa Encounter

Devanagari script

तौ दृष्टवा पतिसंरब्धौ दुर्योधनधनंजयौ । अभ्यवैक्षन्त राजानो भीमरूपा: समन्ततः,दुर्योधन तथा अर्जुनको परस्पर कुपित देख भयंकर नरेशगण सब ओर खड़े हो चुपचाप देखने लगे

Transliteration

tau dṛṣṭvā patisaṃrabdhau duryodhana-dhanañjayau | abhyavaikṣanta rājāno bhīmarūpāḥ samantataḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing Duryodhana and Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) inflamed with wrath against one another, the kings of dreadful aspect stood all around and watched in silence—aware that a clash between such champions would shake the moral and political order of the battlefield.

Word by Word

तौthose two

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

पति-संरब्धौenraged against each other (lit. enraged as opponents)

दुर्योधन-धनंजयौDuryodhana and Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)

अभ्यवैक्षन्तlooked on, observed

राजानःkings

भीम-रूपाःof terrible appearance

समन्ततःon all sides, all around

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Duryodhana

Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)

rājānaḥ (the kings/warrior-chiefs)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Unchecked anger between leading warriors becomes a public, destabilizing force: even powerful kings fall into the role of silent spectators, sensing that personal rage can override prudence and intensify collective destruction—highlighting the ethical danger of krodha (wrath) in a dharma-framed war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana and Arjuna are visibly enraged at each other. Surrounding kings and chiefs, formidable themselves, gather around and watch closely, anticipating a decisive encounter between the two champions.