Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 20

Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa

Resolve for the Mace Duel

Devanagari script

बाह्लीकद्रोणभीष्माणां कर्णस्य च महात्मन: । जयद्रथस्य शूरस्य भगदत्तस्य चोभयो:

Transliteration

bāhlīka-droṇa-bhīṣmāṇāṃ karṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ | jayadrathasya śūrasya bhagadattasya cobhayoḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “(He spoke) of Bāhlīka, Droṇa, and Bhīṣma; of the great-souled Karṇa; of the heroic Jayadratha; and of Bhagadatta—of both sides’ foremost warriors.”

Word by Word

• बाह्लीक: of Bāhlīka
• बाह्लीक: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाह्लीक
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• द्रोण: of Droṇa
• द्रोण: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• भीष्माणाम्: of Bhīṣma (lit. of the Bhīṣmas; used honorifically/poetically)
• भीष्माणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• कर्णस्य: of Karṇa
• कर्णस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (one)
• महात्मनः: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• जयद्रथस्य: of Jayadratha
• जयद्रथस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जयद्रथ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• शूरस्य: of the hero/brave one
• शूरस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• भगदत्तस्य: of Bhagadatta
• भगदत्तस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगदत्त
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• उभयोः: of both (of the two)
• उभयोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• बाह्लीक (Bāhlīka)
• द्रोण (Droṇa)
• भीष्म (Bhīṣma)
• कर्ण (Karṇa)
• जयद्रथ (Jayadratha)
• भगदत्त (Bhagadatta)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how war narratives preserve memory of exemplary figures—teachers, elders, and famed heroes—inviting reflection on how reputation, duty, and allegiance shape ethical judgment even amid conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya continues a report that names major warriors—Bāhlīka, Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Karṇa, Jayadratha, and Bhagadatta—framing them as leading figures whose deeds and roles are being recalled in the account of the battle.