Shloka 54

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्ततो भीमो द्रोणपुत्रमरिंदमम्‌ । अभ्ययान्मेघघोषेण रथेनादित्यवर्चसा,अर्जुनके ऐसा कहनेपर भीमसेन अकेले ही सूर्यके समान तेजस्वी तथा मेघगर्जनाके समान गम्भीर घोष करनेवाले रथके द्वारा शत्रुदमन द्रोणपुत्रका सामना करनेके लिये चल दिये

Transliteration

evam uktas tato bhīmo droṇaputram ariṃdamam | abhyayān meghaghoṣeṇa rathenādityavarcāsā ||

Translation

Ainsi interpellé, Bhīma s’avança pour affronter le fils de Droṇa, dompteur des ennemis. Seul, il lança son char dont le grondement était celui des nuées tonnantes et dont l’éclat brillait comme le soleil, répondant aux paroles d’Arjuna par une action immédiate et une résolution inflexible au cœur des exigences de la guerre conforme au dharma.

Word by Word

एवम्thus

उक्तःhaving been spoken to / addressed

ततःthen; thereafter

भीमःBhima

द्रोणपुत्रम्Drona's son (Ashvatthaman)

अरिंदमम्enemy-subduing

अभ्ययात्advanced; went forth toward

मेघघोषेणwith (a) cloud-like roar

रथेनby/with a chariot

आदित्यवर्चसाwith sun-like radiance

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

Bhīma (Bhīmasena)

Droṇaputra (Aśvatthāmā)

Chariot (ratha)

Sun (Āditya)

Thundercloud (megha)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In the battlefield context, the verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as prompt, fearless response to a just call—turning counsel into decisive action while facing a formidable opponent.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Arjuna’s words, Bhīma moves alone to meet Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāmā, driving a chariot described with thunder-like roar and sun-like brilliance, signaling an imminent clash.