Shloka 22

Devanagari script

बहुशो योधयित्वा तु भीमसेनं महारथम्‌ । मद्रराजात्मज: शूर: परेषां भयवर्धन: । असिचर्मधर: श्रीमान्‌ सौभद्रेण निपातितः,जो महारथी भीमसेनके साथ भी कई बार युद्ध कर चुका था, ढाल और तलवार लेकर शत्रुओंका भय बढ़ानेवाला वह मद्रराजका शूरवीर तेजस्वी पुत्र सुभद्राकुमार अभिमन्युके द्वारा मार डाला गया

Transliteration

bahuśo yodhayitvā tu bhīmasenaṃ mahāratham | madrarājātmajaḥ śūraḥ pareṣāṃ bhayavardhanaḥ | asicarmadharaḥ śrīmān saubhadreṇa nipātitaḥ |

Translation

Санджая сказал: Многократно сражавшийся с великим колесничим Бхимасеной, тот доблестный и славный сын царя Мадры, умножавший страх врагов, с мечом и щитом в руках, был повержен Саубхадрой (Абхиманью).

Word by Word

बहुशःmany times, repeatedly

योधयित्वाhaving caused to fight / having fought (with)

तुbut, indeed

भीमसेनम्Bhimasena

महारथम्great chariot-warrior

मद्रराजात्मजःson of the king of Madra

शूरःheroic, brave

परेषाम्of the enemies/others

भयवर्धनःincreasing fear

असिचर्मधरःbearing sword and shield

श्रीमान्splendid, illustrious

सौभद्रेणby the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu)

निपातितःfelled, slain

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

Madrarāja (King of Madra)

Madrarājātmaja (son of the King of Madra)

Saubhadra (Abhimanyu)

asi (sword)

carma (shield)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the impermanence of martial power and reputation: even a repeatedly battle-tested hero can fall when confronted by a worthy opponent. Ethically, it reflects the harsh logic of kṣatriya-dharma in war—valor and duty are praised, yet they unfold within a field where outcomes are uncertain and life is fragile.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a renowned warrior—the brave son of the king of Madra, known for terrifying enemies and equipped with sword and shield—who had fought Bhīma many times, is slain by Saubhadra, i.e., Abhimanyu.