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Shloka 30

देवसत्रे मृत्युनिरोधः, पूर्वेन्द्राणां मानुषावतरणम्, द्रौपदी-वरकथनम्

Suspension of Death at the Devasatra; Former Indras’ Human Descent; Draupadī’s Boon Etiology

पातिते भीमसेनेन शल्ये कर्णे च शड्किते । शड्किता: सर्वराजान: परिवत्रुर्वकोदरम्‌

pātite bhīmasenena śalye karṇe ca śaṅkite | śaṅkitāḥ sarvarājānaḥ parivavruḥ vṛkodaram ||

Vaiśampāyana dit : Lorsque Śalya eut été abattu par Bhīmasena et que Karṇa lui-même fut saisi de doute et de crainte, tous les rois —alarmés et le cœur détourné du combat— entourèrent Vṛkodara (Bhīma) de toutes parts, se tenant en cercle autour de lui. La scène souligne combien vite le moral bascule à la guerre : la chute d’un champion et l’hésitation d’un autre peuvent ébranler toute une armée, poussant les souverains à agir par inquiétude plutôt que par résolution ferme.

पातितेwhen (it was) felled/struck down
पातिते:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootपातित (√पत्/√पात् caus.)
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
भीमसेनेनby Bhīmasena
भीमसेनेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootभीमसेन
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
शल्येin/with regard to Śalya
शल्ये:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootशल्य
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
कर्णेin/with regard to Karṇa
कर्णे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्ण
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
शङ्कितेwhen (there was) fear/suspicion
शङ्किते:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootशङ्कित
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
शङ्किताःalarmed, apprehensive
शङ्किताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशङ्कित
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सर्वराजानःall the kings
सर्वराजानः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसर्वराजन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
परिवव्रुःsurrounded, encompassed
परिवव्रुः:
TypeVerb
Rootपरि-√वृ (वृणोति/ववृ)
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural
वकोदरम्Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
वकोदरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवकोदर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
B
Bhīmasena (Vṛkodara)
Ś
Śalya
K
Karṇa
S
sarvarājānaḥ (the assembled kings)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the ethical-psychological dimension of warfare: collective conduct often follows fear and shifting morale rather than principled steadiness. When key warriors fall or waver, even rulers may abandon clear judgment and act defensively, revealing how dharma in conflict is tested not only by weapons but by courage and composure.

After Bhīmasena brings down Śalya and Karṇa becomes apprehensive, the gathered kings grow alarmed. They stop pressing forward with confident battle intent and instead surround Bhīma from all sides, forming an encirclement around him.