Shloka 73

Śalya–Bhīma Gadāyuddham (मद्रराज-भीमसेन गदायुद्धम्)

Devanagari script

रुक्मपत्रान्तरे सक्तस्तस्मिं क्षमणि भास्वरे | सिन्धुराजबलोद्धूत: सो5भज्यत महानसि:,उस चमकीली ढालपर सोनेका पत्र जड़ा हुआ था। उसके ऊपर जयद्रथने जब बलपूर्वक प्रहार किया, तब उससे टकराकर उसका वह विशाल खड्ग टूट गया

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

rukmapatrāntare saktaḥ tasmiṃ kṣamaṇi bhāsvare |

sindhurājabaloddhūtaḥ so 'bhajyata mahān asiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Sa grande épée, heurtant le bouclier étincelant incrusté de plaques d’or, se brisa—violemment repoussée par le coup puissant du roi du Sindhu (Jayadratha). Dans la rude loi du combat, la prouesse et l’élan peuvent renverser l’avantage en un souffle, et réduire même une arme redoutable à néant.

Word by Word

रुक्मपत्रान्तरेin the interspace of a golden plate/leaf

सक्तःstuck/fastened

तस्मिन्in/on that

क्ष्मणिon the shield/armor (protective surface)

भास्वरेshining

सिन्धुराजबलोद्धूतःdriven/impelled by the force of the king of Sindhu (Jayadratha)

सःhe/that (sword)

अभज्यतbroke/was shattered

महान्great/huge

असिःsword

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Sindhurāja (Jayadratha)

shield (kṣamaṇi)

golden inlay (rukmapatra)

sword (asi)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a dharma-governed battlefield, outcomes hinge on strength, timing, and circumstance; pride in weapons or advantage is fragile, and a single counterforce can nullify it.

What is happening in the narrative?

A warrior’s mighty sword strikes a radiant shield inlaid with gold; Jayadratha (the king of Sindhu) counters with such force that the sword is repelled and breaks.