Shloka 81

भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः

Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas

Devanagari script

ते वध्यमाना भीष्मेण शतशो5थ सहस््रश: । कुर्वाणं समरे कर्माण्यतिमानुषविक्रमम्‌

Transliteration

te vadhyamānā bhīṣmeṇa śataśo ’tha sahasraśaḥ | kurvāṇaṃ samare karmāṇy atimānuṣa-vikramam ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Dipukul jatuh oleh Bhīṣma—beratus-ratus malah beribu-ribu—mereka menyaksikan baginda di medan perang melakukan tugas-tugas peperangan dengan keperkasaan yang melampaui ukuran manusia biasa.

Word by Word

• ते: they (those warriors)
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वध्यमानाः: being slain
• वध्यमानाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध्यमान (√वध्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भीष्मेण: by Bhīṣma
• भीष्मेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• शतशः: by hundreds
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शतशस्

• अथ: and then / and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• सहस्रशः: by thousands
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रशस्

• कुर्वाणम्: doing / performing
• कुर्वाणम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: कुर्वाण (√कृ)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• कर्माणि: deeds, acts
• कर्माणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• अतिमानुषविक्रमम्: of superhuman prowess
• अतिमानुषविक्रमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिमानुषविक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: exceptional martial virtue (vikrama) can coexist with immense destruction. It invites reflection on kṣatriya-duty and the grave human cost that accompanies even ‘righteous’ prowess in battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma is cutting down opposing warriors in vast numbers—hundreds and thousands—while executing battlefield actions with seemingly superhuman strength and skill.