Shloka 42

भीष्मशिबिरगमनम् — Duryodhana’s Visit to Bhīṣma’s Camp and the Command Appeal

Devanagari script

इरावानपि खड्गेन दर्शयन्‌ पाणिलाघवम्‌ | अभ्यवर्तत तान्‌ सर्वान्‌ सौबलान्‌ बलदर्पित:

Transliteration

irāvān api khaḍgena darśayan pāṇilāghavam | abhyavartata tān sarvān saubalān baladarpitaḥ ||

Translation

Irāvān pun, sambil memperlihatkan kelincahan tangannya dengan pedang, maju menghadapi semua Saubala itu; mabuk oleh keangkuhan kekuatan, ia menerjang ke kancah perang.

Word by Word

• इरावान्: Iravan (proper name)
• इरावान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: इरावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: also, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• खड्गेन: with a sword
• खड्गेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• दर्शयन्: showing, displaying
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पाणि-लाघवम्: quickness/agility of hand
• पाणि-लाघवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणिलाघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अभ्यवर्तत: advanced against, attacked, confronted
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तान्: those (men)
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सर्वान्: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सौबलान्: the Saubalas (sons/men of Subala)
• सौबलान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• बल-दर्पितः: proud/intoxicated with strength
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलदर्पित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• इरावान् (Irāvān)
• खड्ग (khaḍga, sword)
• सौबलाः (Saubalāḥ, Subala’s line/men)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a recurring ethical tension in the Mahābhārata: martial skill and courage are admirable, but when fueled by baladarpita—pride in strength—they can become a moral vulnerability, leading to rashness and downfall.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Irāvān entering combat, brandishing his sword and demonstrating quick handwork as he advances to confront all the Saubala warriors (the Gāndhāra side), driven by confidence and pride in his power.