Shloka 8

Adhyāya 33: Rauhiṇeya (Balarāma) is welcomed and takes his seat to witness the gadā-engagement

Devanagari script

बली भीम: समर्थश्न कृती राजा सुयोधन:

Transliteration

balī bhīmaḥ samarthaś ca kṛtī rājā suyodhanaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Mighty Bhīma was powerful and capable; and King Suyodhana (Duryodhana) was also a man of resolve and resource. In the war’s moral tension, the line underscores how strength and competence exist on both sides, even when their causes and choices differ.

Word by Word

• बली: mighty/strong
• बली: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीमः: Bhima
• भीमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समर्थः: capable/competent
• समर्थः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कृती: skilled/able
• कृती: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुयोधनः: Suyodhana (Duryodhana)
• सुयोधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुयोधन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīma
• Suyodhana (Duryodhana)
• Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that prowess and capability are not exclusive to the morally superior side; ethical evaluation in the Mahābhārata depends not only on strength but on intention, choices, and adherence to dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya briefly characterizes the principal warriors/leaders: Bhīma as mighty and capable, and Suyodhana (Duryodhana) as a resourceful king—setting a balanced tone while describing the conflict’s formidable opponents.