Shloka 27

Devanagari script

तत्‌ कर्म प्रेक्ष्य बीभत्सोरतिमानुषविक्रमम्‌

Transliteration

tat karma prekṣya bībhatsor atimānuṣa-vikramam

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing that deed—Bhībhatsu’s prowess, surpassing what is human—(the warriors were struck with awe and dread).

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कर्म: deed, action
• कर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रेक्ष्य: having seen, after observing
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ईक्ष्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• बीभत्सोः: of the dreadful one (Bhīma)
• बीभत्सोः: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective (used as noun/epithet)
• Root: बीभत्सु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अतिमानुषविक्रमम्: superhuman prowess/valor
• अतिमानुषविक्रमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: अतिमानुषविक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhībhatsu (Arjuna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Extraordinary power in war is portrayed as a consequence of disciplined kṣatriya effort and higher support; it evokes both admiration and moral gravity, reminding the listener that martial deeds carry ethical weight even when they appear superhuman.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the onlookers witness a striking battlefield feat and recognize it as Arjuna’s (Bhībhatsu’s) superhuman prowess, setting the tone of awe and fear among the opposing forces.