Shloka 10

भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः

Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas

Devanagari script

तथैव पाण्डवा राजन्‌ परिवद्रु: पितामहम्‌ | स समन्तात्‌ परिवृतो रथौघैरपराजित:

Transliteration

tathaiva pāṇḍavā rājan parivadruḥ pitāmaham | sa samantāt parivṛto rathaughair aparājitaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “In the same manner, O King, the Pāṇḍavas pressed around the grandsire Bhīṣma. Yet he, unconquered, stood encircled on every side by a flood of chariots.”

Word by Word

तथाthus, in that manner

एवindeed, just

पाण्डवाःthe Pandavas

राजन्O king

परिवद्रुःthey reviled/abused

पितामहम्the grandsire (Bhishma)

सःhe

समन्तात्on all sides, all around

परिवृतःsurrounded, encompassed

रथौघैःby masses/streams of chariots

अपराजितःunconquered, undefeated

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Pāṇḍavas

Bhīṣma (Pitāmaha)

chariots (ratha)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness and martial duty: even when surrounded by overwhelming force, a warrior committed to his role (kṣatriya-dharma) remains unshaken. Ethically, it underscores resolve and discipline amid chaos, while also hinting at the tragic grandeur of war where valor persists even in a morally fraught conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍavas have closed in around Bhīṣma on all sides with many chariots. Despite being encircled, Bhīṣma is described as ‘unconquered,’ emphasizing his dominance and resilience on the battlefield.