Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 41

Śalya–Bhīma Gadā-saṃnipāta and Śalya’s Bāṇa-jāla against Yudhiṣṭhira

Book 9, Chapter 11

Devanagari script

ऋक्षवर्णाञ्जघानाश्वान्‌ भोजो भीमस्य संयुगे । सो<वतीर्य रथोपस्थाद्धताश्वात्‌ पाण्डुनन्दन:

Transliteration

ṛkṣavarṇāñ jaghānāśvān bhojo bhīmasya saṁyuge | so ’vatīrya rathopasthād dhatāśvāt pāṇḍunandanaḥ ||

Translation

サञ्जयは言った。激戦のさなか、ボージャの戦士はビーマの馬—熊のような毛色の馬—を討ち倒した。馬を失ったパーンドゥの子は戦車の台から跳び降り、徒歩で戦いを続けた。

Word by Word

• ऋक्षवर्णान्: bear-colored
• ऋक्षवर्णान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋक्षवर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• जघान: slew
• जघान: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अश्वान्: horses
• अश्वान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• भोजः: the Bhoja (king)
• भोजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीमस्य: of Bhima
• भीमस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• संयुगे: in battle
• संयुगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अवतीर्य: having descended
• अवतीर्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-तॄ
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• रथोपस्थात्: from the chariot-seat
• रथोपस्थात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथोपस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• हताश्वात्: from (the chariot) whose horses were slain
• हताश्वात्: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हताश्व
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• पाण्डुनन्दनः: the son of Pandu
• पाण्डुनन्दनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डुनन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīma
• Pāṇḍunandana (Bhīma)
• Bhoja (warrior)
• horses
• chariot (ratha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a wartime ethical tension: victory often turns on disabling an opponent’s means (here, the horses), yet the warrior’s dharma is shown in steadfastness—Bhīma does not retreat but adapts immediately, meeting adversity with courage and continued engagement.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the battle, a Bhoja fighter kills Bhīma’s horses. With his chariot immobilized, Bhīma (the son of Pāṇḍu) jumps down from the chariot-platform and continues the fight on foot.