Shloka 24

भीमसेननादः तथा प्रथमसंमर्दः

Bhīmasena’s Roar and the First Clash

Devanagari script

समदु:ःखसुख: स्वस्थ: समलोष्टाश्मकाउचन: । तुल्यप्रियाप्रियो धीरस्तुल्यनिन्दा55त्मसंस्तुति:,जो निरन्तर आत्मभावमें स्थित, दुःख-सुखको समान समझनेवाला, मिट्टी, पत्थर और स्वर्णमें समानभाववाला, ज्ञानी, प्रिय तथा अप्रियको एक-सा माननेवाला& और अपनी निन्दा-स्तुतिमें भी समानभाववाला है*

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca | samaduḥkhasukhaḥ svasthaḥ samaloṣṭāśmakāñcanaḥ | tulyapriyāpriyo dhīras tulyanindātmasaṃstutiḥ ||

Translation

جو دکھ اور سکھ میں یکساں رہتا ہے، اپنے آپ میں قائم اور سنبھلا ہوا؛ مٹی کے ڈھیلے، پتھر اور سونے کو برابر نظر سے دیکھتا ہے؛ ثابت قدم ہے؛ پسند و ناپسند کو ایک سا جانتا ہے؛ اور اپنی مذمت و تعریف میں بھی یکساں رہتا ہے۔

Word by Word

समequal, even-minded

दुःखby/with sorrow

सुखःhappiness

स्वस्थःself-possessed, steady

समequal

लोष्टin/with a clod (of earth)

अश्मin/with a stone

काञ्चनःgold (golden one/thing)

तुल्यequal

प्रियpleasant, dear

अप्रियःunpleasant, not dear

धीरःsteadfast, wise

तुल्यequal

निन्दाcensure, blame

आत्मof oneself

संस्तुतिःpraise, commendation

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

clod of earth

stone

gold

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?

The verse defines inner steadiness (dhīratā) as equanimity: the wise person remains balanced in pleasure and pain, does not measure worth by external objects like gold versus stone, and is not shaken by praise or blame. Ethical maturity is shown as freedom from attachment and aversion.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Bhīṣma Parva’s dialogue setting, Arjuna speaks while reflecting on the marks of a truly steady and wise person. The focus is not on battlefield tactics but on character—how one should remain inwardly composed amid conflict, judgment, and changing fortunes.