Shloka 27

Devanagari script

मण्डलानि विचित्राणि चरतोर्नृपभीमयो: । गदासम्पातजास्तत्र प्रजज्ञु: पावकार्चिष:,विचित्र मण्डलों (पैंतरों)-से विचरते हुए राजा दुर्योधन और भीमसेनकी गदाओंके टकरानेसे वहाँ आगकी लपटें प्रकट होने लगीं

Transliteration

maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi carator nṛpabhīmayor | gadāsampātajāstatra prajajñuḥ pāvakārcīṃṣiḥ ||

Translation

As King Duryodhana and Bhīmasena moved about in intricate circles, the violent clashes of their maces caused tongues of fire to flare up on the battlefield—an image that heightens the dreadful intensity of the duel and the ruinous momentum of war driven by pride and vengeance.

Word by Word

मण्डलानिcircles/maneuvers

विचित्राणिvariegated, wondrous

चरतॊःof the two moving/roaming

नृपभीमयोःof the king (Duryodhana) and Bhima

गदासम्पातजाःborn from the collision of maces

तत्रthere

प्रजज्ञुःarose, came into being

पावकार्चिषःflames of fire

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyudeva

Duryodhana

Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

gadā (mace)

pāvaka (fire/flames)

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 underscores how unchecked hostility and pride intensify conflict: even the very weapons seem to kindle fire, symbolizing the self-feeding nature of violence and the destructive consequences of a war pursued beyond restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana and Bhīma circle each other with complex footwork in a mace duel; when their maces collide, sparks and flame-like flashes appear, emphasizing the ferocity and climactic tension of their combat.