Shloka 22

Devanagari script

प्रत्ययुध्यन्त समरे भीमसेनं सपार्षतम्‌ । पार्थपार्षतयो श्वान्ये जगृहुस्तत्र नामनी,वे भी समरांगणमें भीमसेन और धृष्टद्युम्मनका डटकर सामना करने लगे। उनमेंसे कितने ही योद्धा भीमसेन और धृष्टद्युम्नके नाम ले-लेकर उन्हें युद्धके लिये ललकारने लगे

Transliteration

pratyayudhyanta samare bhīmasenaṃ sapārṣadam | pārthapārṣatayor anye jagṛhus tatra nāmanī ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: In that battle, they stood firm and fought back against Bhīmasena together with his companion-warriors. Others there, invoking the names of Bhīma and the Pārtha-side champion (Dhṛṣṭadyumna), challenged them aloud, calling them to combat—an image of the war’s fierce code of direct confrontation and personal valor.

Word by Word

प्रत्ययुध्यन्तthey fought back / engaged in counter-battle

समरेin battle

भीमसेनम्Bhimasena

सtogether with

पार्षतम्the son of Prishata (Dhrishtadyumna)

पार्थof Partha (Arjuna)

पार्षतयोःof the son of Prishata (Dhrishtadyumna) (dual form used in the pair-phrase)

चand

अन्येothers

जगृहुःthey took / seized / uttered (took up)

तत्रthere

नामनीthe two names

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Pārṣata)

Pārtha (Arjuna / Pāṇḍava side)

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 the kṣatriya ethos of open, direct confrontation: warriors publicly call out opponents by name and meet them face-to-face. It reflects the battlefield ideal of courage and accountability in combat rather than hidden or evasive fighting.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that enemy warriors counter-attack Bhīma along with his supporting fighters, while others loudly challenge Bhīma and Dhṛṣṭadyumna by calling their names, signaling intense engagement and targeted duels amid the larger battle.