Shloka 44

अलायुधस्य भीमवधसंकल्पः

Alāyudha’s Resolve to Confront Bhīma

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तौ महात्मानावुभौ केशवपाण्डवौ । तावब्रूतां तदा कृष्णौ राजानं पृथिवीपतिम्‌,उनके ऐसा कहनेपर महात्मा श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुनने उस समय उन पृथ्वीपति नरेशसे इस प्रकार कहा--

Transliteration

evam uktau mahātmānāv ubhau keśava-pāṇḍavau | tāv abrūtāṁ tadā kṛṣṇau rājānaṁ pṛthivī-patim ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: When those words had been spoken, the two great-souled heroes—Keśava (Kṛṣṇa) and the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna)—then addressed the king, the lord of the earth, in this manner.

Word by Word

एवम्thus

उक्तौwhen (this) was said

महात्मानौthe two great-souled ones

उभौboth

केशवKeshava (Krishna)

पाण्डवPandava (Arjuna)

तौthose two

अब्रूताम्said/spoke

तदाthen

कृष्णौthe two Krishnas (Krishna and Arjuna)

राजानम्to the king / the king (as object of address)

पृथिवीपतिम्lord of the earth

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)

Pāṇḍava (Arjuna)

the King (rājā / pṛthivī-pati; addressed sovereign)

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 highlights the ethical weight of speech in crisis: after hearing what has been said, exemplary leaders respond deliberately. It frames counsel and reply as duties of dharma, especially in wartime decision-making.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates a scene change: after someone has spoken, Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna—described as great-souled—now turn to address a sovereign king, introducing the next portion of dialogue.