Shloka 21

Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)

Devanagari script

त॑ दृष्टवा विरथं तत्र भीमसेनमरिंदमम्‌

Transliteration

taṁ dṛṣṭvā virathaṁ tatra bhīmasenam arindamam

Translation

Melihat Bhimasena di sana, meski tanpa kereta namun tetap penakluk musuh, mereka pun tertegun.

Word by Word

• तत्: him/that (person)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund), Non-finite

• विरथम्: without a chariot, chariotless
• विरथम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• भीमसेनम्: Bhimasena (Bhima)
• भीमसेनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अरिंदमम्: crusher of foes
• अरिंदमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरिंदम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights resilience and kṣatriya valor: even when external supports like a chariot are lost, a warrior’s true mettle is shown by unwavering courage and continued readiness to face adversity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Bhīma is seen on the battlefield in a ‘viratha’ state—without his chariot—yet described as ‘arindama,’ emphasizing that despite this setback he remains a fearsome opponent.