Shloka 286

Devanagari script

लेलिहन्‌ सृक्किणी वीरो मृगराडिव कानने । हाथियोंकी सेनाको आते देख वीर कुन्तीकुमार भीमसेन जैसे वनमें सिंह अपने जबड़ोंको चाटता है, उसी प्रकार मुँहके दोनों कोनोंको चाटने लगे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

lelihan sṛkkiṇī vīro mṛgarāḍ iva kānane |

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。象軍が迫り来るのを見て、クンティーの子にして勇者ビーマセーナは、森の百獣の王たる獅子が顎を舐めるように口の端を舐めた。迫る戦いに向けた猛き備えと、揺るがぬ決意のしるしであった。

Word by Word

• लेलिहन्: licks
• लेलिहन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिह्
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथम, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सृक्किणी: the two corners of the mouth (cheeks/jaws)
• सृक्किणी: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृक्कि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• वीरः: the hero/warrior
• वीरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मृगराट्: the king of beasts (lion)
• मृगराट्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगराज
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• कानने: in the forest
• कानने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कानन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīmasena
• Kuntī
• lion (mṛgarāṭ)
• forest (kānana)
• elephant army (hastī-senā, implied by context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as fearless readiness and steadfast resolve in the face of overwhelming forces; the lion-simile frames courage as disciplined power rather than panic.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Bhīma’s reaction as he sees the enemy’s elephant troops approaching: Bhīma licks the corners of his mouth like a lion in the forest, a vivid sign that he is eager and prepared to engage in combat.