Shloka 51

Devanagari script

स्थित्वा विष्टभ्य चरणौ भीमेन शिनिपुज्भव:

Transliteration

sthitvā viṣṭabhya caraṇau bhīmena śinipujbhavaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Having stood firm and braced his feet, the descendant of Śini steadied himself in the face of Bhīma—poised for the next violent exchange in the battle, where resolve and physical might decide the moment.

Word by Word

• स्थित्वा: having stood
• स्थित्वा: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• विष्टभ्य: having braced/supported
• विष्टभ्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• चरणौ: the two feet
• चरणौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• भीमेन: by Bhima
• भीमेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• शिनिपुज्भवः: the one born in the Shini lineage (a Shini-descendant)
• शिनिपुज्भवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिनिपुज्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīma
• Śini (lineage reference)
• Śini-descendant (likely Sātyaki)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In the battlefield ethic of the epic, the verse highlights steadiness and preparedness: a warrior must first establish firm footing—symbolically and physically—before meeting overwhelming force. It underscores resolve (dhairya) as a prerequisite to effective action in crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a Śini-line warrior (commonly understood as Sātyaki) bracing his stance and planting his feet as he confronts Bhīma, signaling an imminent clash and the tense escalation of close combat.