Shloka 37

Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa

Resolve for the Mace Duel

Devanagari script

संक्षो भ्य सलिलं वेगाद्‌ गदामादाय वीर्यवान्‌ | अद्विसारमयीं गुर्वीं काड्चनाड्रद भूषणाम्‌

Transliteration

saṃkṣobhya salilaṃ vegād gadām ādāya vīryavān | advisāramayīṃ gurvīṃ kāñcanāṅgada-bhūṣaṇām ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: With a sudden rush he churned the waters, and the mighty warrior seized his mace—heavy, fashioned of unyielding metal, and adorned with golden armlets—readying himself for the grim work of battle.

Word by Word

• संक्षोभ्य: having churned/agitated
• Type: Verb
• Root: संक्षुभ् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे अव्ययभावः), कर्तरि, पूर्वकाले (absolutive)

• सलिलम्: water
• सलिलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वेगात्: from/with force, due to speed
• वेगात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• गदाम्: mace
• गदाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आदाय: having taken up
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे अव्ययभावः), कर्तरि, पूर्वकाले (absolutive)

• वीर्यवान्: the mighty/valorous one
• वीर्यवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अद्विसारमयीम्: made of unalloyed/unsullied essence (i.e., pure)
• अद्विसारमयीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्विसारमयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• गुर्वीम्: heavy
• गुर्वीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• काञ्चनाङ्गदभूषणाम्: adorned with golden armlets/ornaments
• काञ्चनाङ्गदभूषणाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चनाङ्गदभूषणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• salila (water)
• gadā (mace)
• kāñcanāṅgada (golden armlets/ornaments)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the kṣatriya ethos of readiness and resolve: the warrior’s swift, decisive taking up of the mace highlights disciplined courage and preparedness in the face of imminent combat, while also reminding the reader that war is enacted through tangible instruments whose weight and hardness mirror the gravity of violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Sañjaya’s report, a powerful warrior—moving with force—disturbs the waters and then grasps a heavy, unyielding mace adorned with golden ornaments, signaling immediate preparation for a mace-fight or close combat within the ongoing Kurukṣetra war events of Śalya Parva.