Shloka 41

Nara-Nārāyaṇa Precedent and Bhīṣma’s Counsel on Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna; Karṇa’s Reply

Devanagari script

ननु तत्रापि भीमेन पार्थेन च महात्मना । यमाभ्यामेव संगम्य गन्धर्वास्ते पराजिता:

Transliteration

nanu tatrāpi bhīmena pārthena ca mahātmanā | yamābhyāmeva saṅgamya gandharvāste parājitāḥ ||

Translation

Oui, là encore, ces Gandharva furent vaincus lorsqu’ils rencontrèrent Bhīma et le magnanime Pārtha (Arjuna), comme s’ils avaient croisé Yama lui-même.

Word by Word

ननुindeed, surely

तत्रthere

अपिalso, even

भीमेनby Bhima

पार्थेनby Partha (Arjuna)

चand

महात्मनाby the great-souled (one)

यमाभ्याम्by those two Yamas (like Yama)

एवindeed, just

संगम्यhaving met/encountered

गन्धर्वाःthe Gandharvas

तेthose (they)

पराजिताःdefeated

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīma

Pārtha (Arjuna)

Yama

Gandharvas

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that disciplined, dharma-aligned strength can overcome even seemingly superior or celestial forces; true power is not mere might but righteous resolve that protects and restrains wrongdoing.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana states that the Gandharvas were defeated when they confronted Bhīma and Arjuna; the comparison to Yama emphasizes the inevitability and decisiveness of their defeat.