Shloka 38
Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa
Resolve for the Mace Duel
Devanagari script
स भिवत्त्वा स्तम्भितं तोयं स्कन््धे कृत्वा5ड5यसीं गदाम्
Transliteration
sa bhivattvā stambhitaṃ toyaṃ skandhe kṛtvā ayasīṃ gadām
Translation
सञ्जय उवाच—अभिवन्द्य स धैर्येणात्मानं स्थिरयामास; स्कन्धे चायसीं गदां कृत्वा नियतात्मा पुरतः प्रतस्थे। तत्र युद्धमध्यऽपि क्रिया नमस्कारेण संयमेन च परिगृहीता बभूव।
Word by Word
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अभिवत्त्वाhaving saluted
अभिवत्त्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-√वन्द्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
स्तम्भितम्stopped, made motionless
स्तम्भितम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootस्तम्भित (from √स्तम्भ्)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
तोयम्water
तोयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतोय
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
स्कन्धेon (his) shoulder
स्कन्धे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootस्कन्ध
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
कृत्वाhaving placed/made
कृत्वा:
TypeVerb
Root√कृ
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
अयसीम्iron (made of iron)
अयसीम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootअयस (अयस्) → अयसी (adj.)
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
गदाम्mace
गदाम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगदा
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaI
iron mace (ayasī gadā)S
shoulder (skandha)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Even in a battlefield setting, the text highlights self-control and proper conduct: a warrior’s power is to be governed by discipline and respectful observance, not mere rage.
Sañjaya narrates a warrior’s immediate action: after offering a salutation, he composes himself and takes up an iron mace on his shoulder, signaling readiness for the next martial engagement.