Shloka 3163

Bhīmasena’s Kalinga Engagement and the Approach of Bhīṣma (भीमसेन-कालिङ्ग-संग्रामः)

Devanagari script

विकोशैर्विमलै: खड्गैरभिजग्मु: परान्‌ रणे | जो चमकीली तलवारें पहले चितकबरे अथवा साधारण व्याप्र-चर्मकी बनी हुई म्यानोंमें बंद रहती थीं

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | vikośair vimalaiḥ khaḍgair abhijagmuḥ parān raṇe |

Translation

ด้วยดาบที่สว่างวาว สะอาดไร้มลทิน และชักพ้นฝักแล้ว เหล่าวีรบุรุษกรูกระหน่ำเข้าหาศัตรูในสนามรบ ดาบซึ่งก่อนนั้นถูกเก็บในฝักหนังเสือดาวหรือหนังเสือธรรมดาถูกชักออกมา และด้วยดาบนั้นเองพวกเขาก็สังหารฝ่ายตรงข้ามในสมรภูมิ

Word by Word

• विकोशैः: with unsheathed (drawn out)
• विकोशैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकोश
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• विमलैः: with spotless/bright
• विमलैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• खड्गैः: with swords
• खड्गैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अभिजग्मुः: they went up to/attacked
• अभिजग्मुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-गम्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Plural

• परान्: the enemies/others
• परान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• khaḍga (sword)
• raṇa (battlefield)
• parāḥ (foes/enemies)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the irreversible moral weight of entering battle: once swords are drawn, intent becomes action. It reflects kṣātra-dharma—courage and duty in war—while implicitly reminding that such duty carries grave consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya describes warriors drawing their gleaming swords and advancing directly against opposing fighters on the battlefield, engaging in close combat and killing enemies.