Shloka 24

भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः

Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas

Devanagari script

बाहुभि: कार्मुकै: खड़्गैः शिरोभिश्व सकुण्डलै: । तलन्रैरड्गुलित्रैश्व ध्वजैश्न विनिपातितै:

Transliteration

bāhubhiḥ kārmukaiḥ khaḍgaiḥ śirobhiś ca sakuṇḍalaiḥ | talanrair aṅgulitraiś ca dhvajaiś ca vinipātitaiḥ ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ସେଠାରେ କଟା ବାହୁ, କାର୍ମୁକ ଓ ଖଡ୍ଗ; କୁଣ୍ଡଳ ସହିତ ପତିତ ଶିର; କଟା ତଲତ୍ରାଣ ଓ ଅଙ୍ଗୁଳିତ୍ରାଣ; ଏବଂ ଭୂମିପତିତ ଧ୍ୱଜ—ଏସବୁରେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧଭୂମି ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• बाहुभिः: with arms
• बाहुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• कार्मुकैः: with bows
• कार्मुकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्मुक
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• खड्गैः: with swords
• खड्गैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शिरोभिः: with heads
• शिरोभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सकुण्डलैः: with earrings (ear-ornamented)
• सकुण्डलैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकुण्डल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• तलत्रैः: with palms (hands)
• तलत्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तलत्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अङ्गुलित्रैः: with fingers
• अङ्गुलित्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुलित्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ध्वजैः: with banners/standards
• ध्वजैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• विनिपातितैः: having been felled/caused to fall
• विनिपातितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-नि-√पत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural, Past passive participle (क्त)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• bows (kārmuka)
• swords (khaḍga)
• heads with earrings (śiras, kuṇḍala)
• palms and fingers (tala, aṅguli)
• banners/standards (dhvaja)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the harsh reality and moral gravity of war: even when fought under kṣatriya-duty, battle entails irreversible loss. It invites reflection on responsibility, restraint, and the human cost behind martial glory.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the aftermath of intense fighting: the ground is littered with fallen weapons, severed limbs, heads still ornamented, and toppled standards—conveying the scale of slaughter and the collapse of many warriors’ forces.