Shloka 286

भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः

Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas

Devanagari script

अनीकं पाण्दुपुत्राणां हाहाभूतमचेतनम्‌ | पाण्डवोंकी सेना अचेत-सी होकर हाहाकार कर रही थी। उसके रथ, हाथी और घोड़े बाणोंसे क्षत-विक्षत हो रहे थे। ध्वजाएँ कटकर धराशायी हो गयी थीं

Transliteration

anīkaṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ hāhābhūtam acetanam |

Translation

ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಪಾಂಡವರ ಸೇನೆ ಅಚೇತನವಾದಂತೆ ‘ಹಾಹಾ’ ಎಂದು ಕೂಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಅವರ ರಥಗಳು, ಗಜಗಳು, ಅಶ್ವಗಳು ಬಾಣಗಳಿಂದ ಗಾಯಗೊಂಡು ಚೂರುಚೂರಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು; ಧ್ವಜಗಳು ಕತ್ತರಿಸಿ ನೆಲಕ್ಕುರುಳಿದ್ದವು.

Word by Word

अनीकम्army, host, battalion

पाण्डुपुत्राणाम्of the sons of Pāṇḍu (the Pāṇḍavas)

हाहाभूतम्having become a 'hāhā' (in a state of lamentation/uproar)

अचेतनम्senseless, unconscious, bewildered

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Pāṇḍavas (sons of Pāṇḍu)

Pāṇḍava army/battle-array (anīka)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the human cost of war: even a dharmic side can be shaken into confusion and lamentation when violence peaks. It invites reflection on restraint, responsibility, and the ethical weight borne by leaders and warriors.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the Pāṇḍava battle-formation has fallen into panic and distress, appearing stunned and disoriented amid the fighting.