Shloka 31

भीष्मभीमसमागमः — Bhīṣma–Bhīma Strategic Engagement and Counsel to the King

Devanagari script

भूरिश्रवा रणे यत्तो धृष्टकेतुमयोधयत्‌

Transliteration

bhūriśravā raṇe yatto dhṛṣṭaketum ayodhayat

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Au cœur de la mêlée, Bhūriśravā, tout entier tendu vers le combat, engagea Dhṛṣṭaketu dans un affrontement direct.

Word by Word

• भूरिश्रवा: Bhūrishravā (a warrior)
• भूरिश्रवा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूरिश्रवस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• यत्तः: striving/intent, exerted
• यत्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धृष्टकेतुम्: Dhṛṣṭaketu (a warrior)
• धृष्टकेतुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृष्टकेतु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अयोधयत्: made (him) fight; fought with
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Causative (ṇic), Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhūriśravā
• Dhṛṣṭaketu
• raṇa (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of determined engagement in battle: once committed, a warrior presses forward with resolve. Ethically, it points to how duty and martial identity can propel action, even when the wider war’s suffering calls for discernment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a specific battlefield encounter: Bhūriśravā, actively striving in the fight, takes on Dhṛṣṭaketu, indicating a focused duel amid the larger Kurukṣetra conflict.