Shloka 596

Devanagari script

विमुखा: पृष्ठतश्नान्ये ताड्यन्ते पार्श्वत: परे । कुछ योद्धा अन्यत्र जाते हुए मार्गमें दूसरे योद्धाओंके आक्रमणके शिकार हो जाते थे। कुछ लोग युद्धसे विमुख होकर भागते समय पीठ और पार्श्वभागोंमें विपक्षियोंके बाणोंकी चोट सहते थे

Transliteration

vimukhāḥ pṛṣṭhataś cānye tāḍyante pārśvataḥ pare |

Translation

Bhīmasena décrit le chaos du combat : certains guerriers, se détournant de la mêlée, étaient frappés dans le dos ; d’autres étaient blessés aux flancs par leurs ennemis. La scène souligne l’éthique implacable du champ de bataille : dès qu’on abandonne sa position, la peur et le désordre appellent la blessure, et la lutte devient une épreuve sombre de résolution et de devoir au cœur de la violence.

Word by Word

विमुखाःturned away, fleeing/averse (ones)

पृष्ठतःfrom behind, on the back side

अन्येothers

ताड्यन्तेare struck/assailed

पार्श्वतःfrom the side(s)

परेthe others/opponents

Speaker

भीमसेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīmasena

enemy warriors

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?

The verse highlights a battlefield ethic often implied in epic warfare: abandoning one’s position and turning away invites vulnerability and harm. It frames courage and steadfastness as protective, while panic and retreat lead to suffering and disorder.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīma is describing the melee where fighters are struck from behind or in the flanks—especially those who turn away from combat—showing the confusion of moving formations and the relentless pressure from the opposing side.