Shloka 54

Devanagari script

भीमके बाहुबलसे छूटे हुए अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंद्वारा यक्षों तथा राक्षसोंके शरीर और सिर कटे दिखायी दे रहे थे ।। प्रच्छाद्यमानं रक्षोभि: पाण्डवं प्रियदर्शनम्‌ । ददृशु: सर्वभूतानि सूर्यमभ्रगणैरिव,जैसे बादल सूर्यको ढक लेते हैं, उसी प्रकार प्रियदर्शन पाण्डुपुत्र भीमको राक्षस ढक लेते हैं, यह सब प्राणियोंने प्रत्यक्ष देखा

Transliteration

bhīmake bāhubalase chūṭe huye astra-śastrondvārā yakṣāṇāṃ tathā rākṣasānāṃ śarīrāṇi śirāṃsi ca chinnāni dṛśyante sma || pracchādyamānaṃ rakṣobhiḥ pāṇḍavaṃ priyadarśanam | dadṛśuḥ sarvabhūtāni sūryam abhragaṇair iva ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: By the sheer strength of Bhīma’s arms, the missiles and weapons he had unleashed were seen to have severed the bodies and heads of the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas. As clouds veil the sun, so did the Rākṣasas swarm and cover the handsome Pāṇḍava Bhīma—this was plainly witnessed by all beings. The scene underscores both the ferocity of battle and the moral contrast between protective valor and predatory assault.

Word by Word

प्रच्छाद्यमानम्being covered/veiled

रक्षोभिःby the demons (rakshasas)

पाण्डवम्the Pandava (son of Pandu)

प्रियदर्शनम्pleasant-to-see, handsome

ददृशुःsaw

सर्वभूतानिall beings

सूर्यम्the sun

अभ्रगणैःby masses of clouds

इवlike, as if

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīma

Pāṇḍava(s)

Yakṣa(s)

Rākṣasa(s)

astra (missiles)

śastra (weapons)

sun (sūrya)

clouds (abhragaṇa)

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 righteous courage under overwhelming opposition: even when a protector is surrounded and obscured, steadfast strength and resolve can uphold dharma against predatory forces.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīma’s weapons have already inflicted severe damage—heads and bodies of Yakṣas and Rākṣasas are seen severed—yet the remaining Rākṣasas mass together and cover him, like clouds covering the sun, a spectacle witnessed by all beings.