Shloka 56

भीमसेन-धृष्टद्युम्नयोर्वाक्यं

Bhīmasena and Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s Speeches on Kṣātra-Dharma

Devanagari script

ततो भीमो महाराज गदां गुर्वी महाप्रभाम्‌

Transliteration

tato bhīmo mahārāja gadāṃ gurvīṃ mahāprabhām

Translation

ततो भीमो महाराज गदां गुर्वीं महाप्रभाम्।

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from there/then')

• भीमः: Bhima
• भीमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, vocative, singular

• गदाम्: mace
• गदाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा
• Form: Feminine, accusative, singular

• गुर्वीम्: heavy
• गुर्वीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुर्वी (गुरु)
• Form: Feminine, accusative, singular

• महाप्रभाम्: of great splendor
• महाप्रभाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाप्रभा
• Form: Feminine, accusative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīma
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• gadā (mace)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness: in a crisis, a warrior must act decisively, yet the narrative context of the Mahābhārata keeps the ethical tension visible—power and weaponry must be governed by responsibility, not mere rage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma, at a critical moment in the battle, lifts or readies his formidable, shining mace—preparing to strike and intensify the confrontation.