Shloka 86

दुःशासनवधः (Duḥśāsana-vadha) — Bhīma’s vow-fulfillment in combat

Devanagari script

अभ्यधावदभिप्रेप्सू राजानं शत्रुभिवृतम्‌ | भीमसेन भी शत्रुओंसे घिरे हुए राजा युधिष्ठिरको बचानेके लिये समरांगणमें आपके महारथियोंको रौंदते हुए उनके पास दौड़े आये

Transliteration

abhidhāvad abhiprepsū rājānaṃ śatrubhir vṛtam |

Translation

Sañjaya said: Eager to reach him, Bhīmasena rushed toward the king who was surrounded by enemies. Crushing through your great chariot-warriors on the battlefield, he ran to protect Yudhiṣṭhira—an act driven by loyalty and the warrior’s duty to safeguard his leader in the midst of peril.

Word by Word

• अभ्यधावत्: ran towards
• अभ्यधावत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: धाव्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अभिप्रेप्सुः: desiring to obtain/reach
• अभिप्रेप्सुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आप् (आप्) / प्रेप्सु- (desiderative adjective)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शत्रुभिः: by/with enemies
• शत्रुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वृतम्: surrounded
• वृतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत (√वृ 'to cover/surround')
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• enemies (śatru)
• mahārathas (great chariot-warriors)
• battlefield (samarāṅgaṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as protective courage: a warrior’s ethical duty is not merely to fight, but to shield the rightful leader and uphold the stability of the cause he represents, even at personal risk.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira is encircled by enemies. Seeing the danger, Bhīma charges across the battlefield, forcing his way through opposing elite fighters to reach and protect the king.