Shloka 26

Devanagari script

तथा भीमगदावेगैस्ताड्यमानो महाबल: । धैर्यान्मद्राधिपस्तस्थौ वजैर्गिरिरिवाहत:,इसी प्रकार भीमसेनकी गदाके वेगसे आहत होकर महाबली मद्रराज वज्राघातसे पीड़ित पर्वतकी भाँति धैर्यपूर्वक खड़े रहे

Transliteration

tathā bhīmagadāvegais tāḍyamāno mahābalaḥ | dhairyān madrādhipas tasthau vajrair girir ivāhataḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Struck by the rushing force of Bhīma’s mace, the mighty king of Madra did not waver; through steadfast courage he stood firm, like a mountain battered by thunderbolts.

Word by Word

तथाthus, in that manner

भीमगदावेगैःby the force(s) of Bhima's mace

ताड्यमानःbeing struck

महाबलःthe very strong (one)

धैर्यात्out of steadfastness; due to courage

मद्राधिपःthe lord/king of Madra

तस्थौstood; remained

वज्रैःby thunderbolts

गिरिःa mountain

इवlike, as

आहतःstruck, smitten

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīma (Bhīmasena)

Madra king (Śalya)

gadā (mace)

vajra (thunderbolt)

giri (mountain)

Madra (kingdom)

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?

The verse underscores dhairya (steadfast courage): even when struck by overwhelming force, a warrior should maintain composure and firmness. Ethically, it praises resilience and self-mastery under pressure rather than panic or collapse.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the battle, Bhīma strikes the Madra king (Śalya) with powerful mace-blows. Though battered, Śalya remains standing, compared to a mountain enduring repeated thunderbolt strikes.