Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

विक्रीडमानं कौन्तेयं हर्षण महता युतम्‌ । निहत्य तरसा शत्रुं महाबलसमन्वितम्‌

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | vikrīḍamānaṃ kaunteyaṃ harṣeṇa mahatā yutam | nihatya tarasā śatruṃ mahābalasamanvitam | niṣpāpa mahārāja |

Translation

निष्पाप महाराज! हमने कुन्तीकुमार भीम को देखा—वे महान् हर्ष से युक्त, मानो क्रीड़ा करते हुए, महाबलवान शत्रु को वेग से मारकर उल्लसित हो रहे थे।

Word by Word

• विक्रीडमानम्: sporting/playing, dancing (in joy)
• विक्रीडमानम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+क्रीड् (धातु) → क्रीडमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), आत्मनेपद-भाव

• कौन्तेयम्: the son of Kunti (Bhima/Arjuna etc.)
• कौन्तेयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौन्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• हर्षेण: with joy
• हर्षेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• महता: great, intense
• महता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• युतम्: endowed/connected (with)
• युतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• निहत्य: having slain
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त), पूर्वकाल

• तरसा: with speed/force
• तरसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

• महाबलसमन्वितम्: endowed with great strength
• महाबलसमन्वितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल-समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• निष्पाप: O sinless one
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhritarashtra
• Bhima (Bhimasena)
• Kunti
• enemy (unnamed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a moral tension within kshatriya-dharma: the warrior must perform violent duty in war, yet the mind can be swept by exhilaration after victory. It invites reflection on self-mastery—how righteous action in a grim context can still provoke intense emotion that must be understood and governed.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports to King Dhritarashtra that Bhima, after swiftly killing a powerful enemy, is seen moving in exuberant celebration—'sporting' with great joy—on the battlefield.