Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 316

Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57

Devanagari script

समशोभत तेजस्वी भूयो भीमात्‌ सुयोधन: । नाना प्रकारके मार्गों और भिन्न-भिन्न मण्डलोंसे विचरते हुए तेजस्वी दुर्योधनकी उस समय भीमसेनसे अधिक शोभा हुई

Transliteration

samaśobhata tejasvī bhūyo bhīmāt suyodhanaḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya dit : En cet instant, le resplendissant Suyodhana (Duryodhana) parut plus éclatant encore que Bhīma. Évoluant par maintes trajectoires et décrivant des cercles de combat sans cesse changeants, sa prouesse et son allure semblaient, un moment, éclipser son adversaire.

Word by Word

• समशोभत: shone, appeared splendid
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तेजस्वी: radiant, glorious
• तेजस्वी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तेजस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भूयः: more, exceedingly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस्

• भीमात्: than Bhima / from Bhima
• भीमात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• सुयोधनः: Suyodhana (Duryodhana)
• सुयोधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुयोधन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Suyodhana (Duryodhana)
• Bhīma (Bhīmasena)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the distinction between outward splendor in battle (tejas, tactical movement, visible dominance) and the deeper ethical judgment of a conflict. Martial brilliance can appear compelling in the moment, yet it does not by itself settle the question of dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the climactic combat between Bhīma and Duryodhana, Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana, moving dynamically through varied lines and circles of engagement, looked more resplendent than Bhīma at that instant—emphasizing a temporary advantage in appearance and maneuver.