Shloka 24

कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९

Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces

Devanagari script

त्वरमाणास्त्वराकाले सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरा: । मज्जन्तमिव पाताले बलिनोड्प्युज्जिहीर्षव:

Transliteration

tvaramāṇās tvarākāle sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varāḥ | majjantaṃ iva pātāle balino ’py ujjihīrṣavaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: In that moment demanding utmost haste, the mighty Pāṇḍava warriors—foremost among all who bear weapons—were seen rushing forward, eager to rescue (Yudhiṣṭhira), as though he were sinking into Pātāla, the netherworld.

Word by Word

• {'tvaramāṇāḥ': 'hastening, rushing', 'tvarākāle': 'at a time requiring haste

• in an urgent moment', 'sarva-śastra-bhṛtām': 'of all weapon-bearers/armed warriors', 'varāḥ': 'the best, foremost', 'majjantam': 'sinking, drowning', 'iva': 'as if, like', 'pātāle': 'in Pātāla

• the netherworld/underworld', 'balinaḥ': 'strong, powerful (men)', 'api': 'even, indeed', 'ujjihīrṣavaḥ': 'wishing to lift out/rescue

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pāṇḍava warriors
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Pātāla (netherworld)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid the chaos of war, dharmic responsibility expresses itself as steadfast loyalty and protective action toward one’s rightful leader; urgency is justified when it serves preservation of life and righteous order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the Pāṇḍava fighters rushing in an urgent moment, appearing intent on saving Yudhiṣṭhira, likened to rescuing someone sinking into Pātāla—an image conveying extreme danger and immediate intervention.