Mahabharata 6.91.8 — Bhishma Parva, Adhyaya 91, Shloka 8

Bhagadattā’s Deployment Against Ghaṭotkaca; Elephant-Corps Escalation

Devanagari script

न तत्रासीत्‌ पुमान्‌ कश्नित्‌ पाण्डवानां विशाम्पते । अन्यत्र रथिनां श्रेष्ठाद्‌ भीमसेनान्महाबलात्‌

Transliteration

na tatrāsīt pumān kaścit pāṇḍavānāṁ viśāmpate | anyatra rathināṁ śreṣṭhād bhīmasenān mahābalāt prajānātha ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ପ୍ରଜାନାଥ! ସେ ସମୟରେ ରଥୀମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ମହାବଳୀ ଭୀମସେନ ବ୍ୟତୀତ ପାଣ୍ଡବପକ୍ଷର କେହି ବୀର ଭୀଷ୍ମଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ଠିଆ ହୋଇପାରିଲେ ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• आसीत्: was / existed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3, singular

• पुमान्: man, warrior
• पुमान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• कश्चित्: anyone
• कश्चित्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: कश्चित्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• पाण्डवानाम्: of the Pandavas
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• विशाम्पते: O lord of the people
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाम्पति
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• अन्यत्र: except / elsewhere than
• अन्यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र

• रथिनाम्: of chariot-warriors
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• श्रेष्ठात्: from the best
• श्रेष्ठात्: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: masculine, ablative, singular

• भीमसेनात्: from Bhimasena
• भीमसेनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: masculine, ablative, singular

• महाबलात्: from the mighty-strong one
• महाबलात्: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: masculine, ablative, singular

• प्रजानाथ: O lord of creatures/subjects
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजानाथ
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Bhīṣma
• Bhīmasena
• Pāṇḍavas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that in the chaos of righteous conflict, collective strength can falter before overwhelming authority and skill; then dhairya (steadfast courage) in a single responsible warrior becomes crucial. It also reflects the ethical weight of facing revered elders like Bhīṣma, which can weaken resolve even among capable fighters.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, at that moment on the battlefield, none among the Pāṇḍava side could withstand Bhīṣma—except Bhīma, the mighty chariot-warrior, who alone remained able to confront him.