Shloka 37

Duryodhana’s Anxiety, Bhīṣma’s Reassurance, and Renewed Mobilization (दुर्योधनचिन्ता–भीष्मप्रत्याश्वासन–सेनानिर्गमनम्)

Devanagari script

तामापतन्तीं सहसा घोररूपां दुरासदाम्‌ । अभिमन्यु: शरैस्ती&णैश्विच्छेद भुजगोपमाम्‌,उस भयंकर एवं दुर्जय सर्पिणीके समान शक्तिको सहसा अपनी ओर आते देख अभिमन्युने तीखे बाणोंद्वारा उसके टुकड़े-टुकड़े कर डाले

Transliteration

tām āpatantīṃ sahasā ghorarūpāṃ durāsadām | abhimanyuḥ śarais tīkṣṇaiś ciccheda bhujagopamām ||

Translation

సంజయుడు పలికెను—భయంకరరూపమై, ఎదుర్కోలేనిదై, సర్పసమానంగా ఆ శక్తి అకస్మాత్తుగా తనపై దూసుకొస్తుండగా చూసి, అభిమన్యుడు పదునైన బాణాలతో దానిని ముక్కలుగా చేసెను.

Word by Word

ताम्her/that (female object)

आपतन्तीम्falling/charging (towards)

सहसाsuddenly, at once

घोररूपाम्of terrible form

दुरासदाम्hard to approach/assail

अभिमन्युःAbhimanyu

शरैःwith arrows

तीक्ष्णैःsharp

विच्छेदcut asunder, severed

भुजगोपमाम्snake-like, resembling a serpent

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Abhimanyu

śakti (weapon/spear-like missile, implied by context)

arrows (śara)

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?

In a dharmic battle, fearsome threats are met not with panic but with trained discernment and self-control; Abhimanyu’s swift, precise response exemplifies kṣatriya-dharma—courage guided by skill and steadiness.

What is happening in the narrative?

A terrifying, difficult-to-counter missile (described as serpent-like) suddenly rushes toward Abhimanyu. He responds immediately by shooting sharp arrows that sever it into pieces, neutralizing the danger.