Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

राजन! रणभूमिमें उस गदाकी चोट खाकर भीमसेनके मस्तकसे रक्तकी धारा बह चली और वे मदकी धारा बहानेवाले गजराजके समान अधिक शोभा पाने लगे ।।

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

rājan raṇabhūmau tasya gadā-prahāreṇa bhīmasenasya mastakāt raktadhārā prasasāra, sa ca mada-dhārā-prasravaṇa-gajarāja iva bhūyo 'pi śobhām avāpa ||

tato gadāṃ vīrahaṇīm ayomayīṃ pragṛhya vajrāśani-tulya-niḥsvanām |

atāḍayac chatrum amitra-karṣaṇo balena vikramya dhanañjayāgrajaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Ô roi, bien qu’il eût été frappé sur le champ de bataille par cette massue, un flot de sang coula de la tête de Bhīma ; pourtant il n’en parut que plus splendide, tel un grand éléphant en rut laissant couler son musc. Alors Bhīmasena, le dompteur des ennemis, frère aîné de Dhanañjaya, déployant une vaillance impérieuse, saisit une massue de fer, meurtrière pour les héros, dont le fracas égalait la foudre et l’éclair, et il en frappa son adversaire.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• गदाम्: mace
• गदाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• वीरहणीम्: hero-slaying
• वीरहणीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीरहणी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अयोमयीम्: made of iron
• अयोमयीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अयोमयी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रगृह्य: having seized, taking up
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• वज्राशनितुल्यनिःस्वनाम्: having a sound like thunderbolt and lightning
• वज्राशनितुल्यनिःस्वनाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र-आशनि-तुल्य-निःस्वना
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अताडयत्: struck, smote
• Type: Verb
• Root: तड्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शत्रुम्: enemy
• शत्रुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अमित्रकर्षणः: foe-subduing (one who drags down enemies)
• अमित्रकर्षणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित्रकर्षण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बलेन: with strength
• बलेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• विक्रम्य: having advanced/stridden forth; showing prowess
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रम्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• धनंजयाग्रजः: the elder brother of Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयाग्रजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय-अग्रज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhritarashtra
• Bhimasena (Bhima)
• Dhananjaya (Arjuna)
• Gada (mace)
• Vajra
• Ashani
• Ranabhumi (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness and resolve under suffering: even wounded, Bhima’s presence and determination intensify. Ethically, it reflects the harsh reality of kshatriya-duty in war—courage and endurance are praised, while the narrative also implicitly reminds us of the heavy cost of violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

On the battlefield Bhima is struck by a mace and bleeds from the head, yet appears even more formidable. Immediately afterward he seizes a heavy iron mace, described as thunderbolt-like in sound and hero-destroying in power, and strikes his enemy with renewed force.