Shloka 3

Devanagari script

साश्वसूतरथो भीमो द्रोणपुत्रास्त्रसंवृत: । अग्नावग्निरिव न्यस्तो ज्वालामाली सुदुर्दश:,घोड़े, सारथि और रथसहित भीमसेन द्रोणपुत्रके उस अस्त्रसे ठककर आगके भीतर रखी हुई आगके समान प्रतीत होते थे। वे ज्वालाओंसे इतने घिर गये थे कि उनकी ओर देखना कठिन हो रहा था

Transliteration

sāśvasūtaratho bhīmo droṇaputrāstrasaṁvṛtaḥ | agnāv agnir iva nyasto jvālāmālī sudurdaśaḥ ||

Translation

ಕುದುರೆಗಳು, ಸಾರಥಿ ಮತ್ತು ರಥসহ ಭೀಮನು ದ್ರೋಣಪುತ್ರನ ಅಸ್ತ್ರದಿಂದ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಆವೃತನಾದನು. ಅವನು ಅಗ್ನಿಯೊಳಗೆ ಇಡಲಾದ ಅಗ್ನಿಯಂತೆ, ಜ್ವಾಲಾಮಾಲೆಯಿಂದ ಸುತ್ತುವರಿದು, ನೋಡುವುದಕ್ಕೂ ಅತಿದುರ್ಧರ್ಷನಾಗಿ ಕಾಣಿಸಿಕೊಂಡನು.

Word by Word

सhe/that (Bhima)

अश्वwith horse

सूतwith charioteer

रथःchariot (as accompaniment)

भीमःBhima

द्रोणपुत्रof Drona's son (Ashvatthaman)

अस्त्रby the weapon/missile

संवृतःcovered/enveloped

अग्नौin fire

अग्निःfire

इवlike/as if

न्यस्तःplaced/put down

ज्वालामालीgarlanded with flames; flame-wreathed

सुदुर्दशःin a very dreadful condition; hard to look at

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīma (Bhīmasena)

Droṇaputra (Aśvatthāmā)

astra (missile/weapon)

ratha (chariot)

aśva (horses)

sūta (charioteer)

agni (fire)

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 highlights how war’s momentum can intensify through the use of powerful astras, making even great heroes appear helpless. Ethically, it points to the peril of weapon-driven escalation: when combat becomes dominated by extraordinary missiles, the boundary between valor and devastation thins, and endurance and restraint become as significant as strength.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Bhīma on his chariot—along with horses and charioteer—being completely enveloped by the weapon released by Droṇa’s son, Aśvatthāmā. Bhīma appears like fire within fire, surrounded by flames, so terrifying that looking at him becomes difficult.