Shloka 256

Devanagari script

आह्वयामास नृपतिं सिंहं सिंहो यथा वने । उसी प्रकार पराक्रमी भीमसेनने लोहेकी गदा लेकर राजा दुर्योधनको ललकारा, मानो वनमें एक सिंह दूसरे सिंहको पुकार रहा हो

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | āhvayāmāsa nṛpatiṃ siṃhaṃ siṃho yathā vane |

Translation

సంజయుడు పలికెను—పరాక్రమశాలి భీమసేనుడు ఇనుప గదను ఎత్తుకొని రాజు దుర్యోధనుని సవాలు చేసెను; అడవిలో ఒక సింహం మరొక సింహాన్ని పిలిచినట్లు।

Word by Word

• आह्वयामास: called, challenged
• Type: Verb
• Root: आह्वा (धातु: ह्वा)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपदम्), 3, singular

• नृपतिम्: the king
• नृपतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• सिंहम्: the lion
• सिंहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• सिंहः: a lion
• सिंहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• यथा: as, just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Duryodhana
• iron mace (gadā/āyasī gadā)
• lion (siṃha)
• forest (vana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of direct, public challenge in battle, while implicitly pointing to the ethical tension of the Kurukṣetra war: immense personal valor is exercised within a tragic conflict driven by pride and rivalry. The lion-simile elevates courage and parity of opponents, even as the narrative warns how royal arrogance and unresolved enmity culminate in destructive confrontation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Bhīma, armed with an iron mace, calls out and challenges King Duryodhana to fight. The comparison to one lion calling another in the forest signals that the encounter is a decisive duel between two formidable warriors.