Shloka 54

Devanagari script

प्रमाथिभिर्भीमबलैर्भीमरूपैर्मनोजवै: । विभाति भगवान्‌ स्थाणुस्तैरेवात्मगुणैर्वत:

Transliteration

pramāthibhir bhīmabalair bhīmarūpair manojavaiḥ | vibhāti bhagavān sthāṇus tairevātmaguṇair vataḥ ||

Translation

Duryodhana said: “With those crushing Pramatha hosts—terrible in strength like Bhīma, dreadful in form, and swift as thought—Lord Sthāṇu (Śiva) shines forth, indeed, by those very qualities that are his own.”

Word by Word

प्रमाथिभिःby the crushing/tormenting ones

भीमबलैःby those of terrible strength

भीमरूपैःby those of dreadful form

मनोजवैःby those swift as the mind

विभातिshines forth / appears splendid

भगवान्the Blessed Lord

स्थाणुःSthāṇu (Śiva; the immovable one)

तैःby those

एवindeed / just

आत्मगुणैःby his own qualities

वतas it were / indeed (expletive)

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Duryodhana

Bhīma

Sthāṇu (Śiva)

Pramāthas (Śiva’s attendants)

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 how divinity is recognized through intrinsic qualities: Śiva’s radiance is inseparable from the fierce, swift, overpowering energies that are his own nature and are mirrored in his attendants. It suggests that power and presence are understood by their characteristic attributes, inspiring awe and reflection on the sources of strength in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana speaks in admiration and astonishment, describing Lord Śiva (Sthāṇu) as resplendent amid his formidable retinue—the Pramāthas—whose strength, terrifying forms, and mind-like speed evoke the might associated with Bhīma.