Shloka 26

भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः

Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठिरं द्वादशभिर्बाह्वोरुरसि चार्पयत्‌ । उन्होंने भीमसेनको बारह

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | yudhiṣṭhiraṃ dvādaśabhir bāhv-orurasi cārpayat | yatamānāś ca te vīrā dravamāṇān mahārathān ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Il frappa le roi Yudhiṣṭhira de douze flèches, les plantant dans ses bras et sa poitrine. Cependant, ces vaillants guerriers, luttant de toutes leurs forces, pressaient les grands combattants de char qu’on refoulait — tableau d’un affrontement sans relâche, où la résolution et le devoir (dharma) sont éprouvés au cœur du tumulte guerrier.

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरम्: Yudhiṣṭhira (as object)
• युधिष्ठिरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्वादशभिः: with twelve
• द्वादशभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बाह्वोः: in (his) two arms
• बाह्वोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Dual

• उरसि: in the chest
• उरसि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरस्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• अर्पयत्: he placed/inflicted (shot/caused to lodge)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्प्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यतमानाः: striving, exerting
• यतमानाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यतमान
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: those
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वीराः: heroes
• वीराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• द्रवमाणान्: fleeing, running away
• द्रवमाणान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रवमाण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• महारथान्: great chariot-warriors
• महारथान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• arrows
• mahārathas (great chariot-warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the harsh reality of kṣatriya-duty in war: steadfast effort (yatna) and courage are demanded even when the battlefield turns chaotic and warriors are driven back. It implicitly contrasts righteous resolve with panic and retreat.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a specific battlefield moment: Yudhiṣṭhira is pierced with twelve arrows in his arms and chest, while other heroes continue striving and press upon great chariot-fighters who are in flight or being forced to withdraw.