Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 23

अध्याय ३: कृपस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Kṛpa’s Counsel to Duryodhana

Devanagari script

अक्कुद्धयत रणे भीमस्तैर्म॑थे प्रत्यवस्थितै:

Transliteration

akrudhyata raṇe bhīmas tair mathe pratyavasthitaiḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, Bhīma did not yield to anger. Facing the warriors who stood in close formation, he held his ground with steady resolve—disciplined strength, courage governed by self-control amid the pressures of war.

Word by Word

• अक्रुद्ध्यत्: became angry / was enraged
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रुध्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• भीमः: Bhima
• भीमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तैः: by/with those
• तैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• मथे: in the melee / in the churning (of battle)
• मथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मथ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• प्रत्यवस्थितैः: standing firm/opposed, arrayed against (him)
• प्रत्यवस्थितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रत्यवस्थित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīma
• battlefield (raṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in war, strength is meant to be governed by restraint. Bhīma’s steadiness suggests that righteous action is not mere rage but disciplined courage aligned with duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Bhīma, confronted by opponents positioned directly before him in the dense press of battle, remains composed and does not succumb to anger as the fighting intensifies.