Shloka 71

Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)

Devanagari script

भीम॑ सम्पादयामास रथेन रथसारथि: । इसी समय भीमसेनके सारथि अशोकने एक सुवर्णभूषित रथ लेकर उसे भीमके पास पहुँचाकर उन्हें भी रथसे सम्पन्न कर दिया || ७० ह ।। तमारुहा रथं तूर्ण कौन्तेय: शत्रुसूदन:

Transliteration

bhīmaḥ sampādayāmāsa rathena rathasārathiḥ | tam āruhya rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ kaunteyaḥ śatrusūdanaḥ ||

Translation

భీముని సారథి అతనిని రథసంపన్నుడిగా తక్షణమే చేసెను. ఆ రథమును వెంటనే అధిరోహించి కౌంతేయుడు, శత్రుసూదనుడు, యుద్ధమునకు దూసుకుపోవుటకు సిద్ధమయ్యెను।

Word by Word

भीमःBhima

सम्पादयामासcaused to be obtained / procured / made ready

रथेनby/with a chariot

रथसारथिःthe charioteer (of the chariot)

तम्him

आरुह्यhaving mounted

रथम्the chariot

तूर्णम्quickly

कौन्तेयःson of Kunti (Arjuna/Bhima, context-dependent)

शत्रुसूदनःslayer of enemies

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīma (Bhīmasena)

rathasārathi (Bhīma’s charioteer)

chariot (ratha)

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

What is the core teaching?

Even in war, action should be disciplined and duty-oriented: the warrior’s effectiveness depends on proper preparation and reliable support, reflecting ordered conduct (niyama) within a dharma-framed conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Bhīma’s charioteer quickly provides and readies a chariot; Bhīma then mounts it immediately, signaling his swift readiness to engage the enemy in the ongoing battle.