Shloka 31

Devanagari script

एष भीमो रणश्लाघी वृतः सोमकपाण्डवै: । अभ्यवर्तत वेगेन द्रोणकर्णों महारथौ,'ये युद्धकी स्पृहा रखनेवाले भीमसेन सोमक और पाण्डवयोद्धाओंसे घिरकर महारथी ट्रोण और कर्णका सामना करनेके लिये बड़े वेगसे आ रहे हैं

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

eṣa bhīmo raṇaślāghī vṛtaḥ somaka-pāṇḍavaiḥ |

abhyavartata vegena droṇa-karṇau mahārathau ||

Translation

ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ನೋಡು, ರಣಶ್ಲಾಘಿಯನಾದ ಈ ಭೀಮನು ಸೋಮಕ ಮತ್ತು ಪಾಂಡವ ಯೋಧರಿಂದ ಆವರಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟು, ಮಹಾರಥಿಗಳಾದ ದ್ರೋಣ ಮತ್ತು ಕರ್ಣರನ್ನು ಎದುರಿಸಲು ಮಹಾವೇಗದಿಂದ ಮುನ್ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾನೆ।

Word by Word

एषःthis (man)

भीमःBhima

रण-श्लाघीboasting of battle / battle-proud

वृतःsurrounded

सोमक-पाण्डवैःby the Somakas and the Pandavas

अभ्यवर्ततadvanced toward / came up against

वेगेनwith speed

द्रोण-कर्णौDrona and Karna

महा-रथौthe two great chariot-warriors

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīma (Bhīmasena)

Somakas

Pāṇḍavas (Pāṇḍava warriors)

Droṇa

Karṇa

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 highlights the kṣatriya ideal of direct engagement with formidable opponents: courage, resolve, and readiness to face superior force. Ethically, it frames battlefield action as duty-driven confrontation rather than avoidance, while also showing how collective support (allies surrounding Bhīma) strengthens a righteous cause in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Bhīma rushing forward at great speed, backed and surrounded by Somaka and Pāṇḍava fighters, to meet and challenge two major Kaurava champions—Droṇa and Karṇa—signaling an intense clash among leading warriors.