Shloka 38

Rātri-yuddhe Droṇasya prahāraḥ — Bhīmasenasya dhārtarāṣṭra-śūrānām nigrahaḥ

Night Battle: Droṇa’s Assault and Bhīma’s Suppression of Dhārtarāṣṭra Warriors

Devanagari script

तथा तु नर्दमाने वै भीमसेने मदोत्कटे । स्मितं कृत्वा महाबाहुर्धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिर:

Transliteration

tathā tu nardamāne vai bhīmasene madotkaṭe | smitaṃ kṛtvā mahābāhur dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: As Bhīmasena, fierce with exultant pride, roared aloud, the mighty-armed Yudhiṣṭhira—the son of Dharma—responded with a restrained smile, holding his composure amid the tumult of war.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• तु: but, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• नर्दमाने: while (he) was roaring
• नर्दमाने: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: नर्द्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular, Present active participle (शतृ), locative singular

• वै: indeed, surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• भीमसेने: in/at Bhimasena (Bhima)
• भीमसेने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• मदोत्कटे: in (him) who was fierce with intoxication/pride
• मदोत्कटे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदोत्कट
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• स्मितम्: a smile
• स्मितम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having made, having done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा)

• महाबाहुः: the mighty-armed (one)
• महाबाहुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मपुत्रः: Dharma's son (Yudhishthira)
• धर्मपुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhishthira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmaputra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid the violence and excitement of battle, the dhārmic leader is marked by inner restraint: Yudhiṣṭhira’s slight smile contrasts with Bhīma’s roaring pride, suggesting steadiness, measured response, and governance of emotion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīma, in a surge of triumphant energy, roars loudly on the battlefield. Observing this, Yudhiṣṭhira—described with epithets of strength and righteousness—smiles subtly, indicating controlled reaction rather than loud display.