Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

भीमस्योपरि राजेन्द्र शक्रदेवो महाबल:

Transliteration

bhīmasyopari rājendra śakradevo mahābalaḥ

Translation

سنجے نے کہا—اے راجندر! اسی لمحے عظیم قوت والے شکر دیو خود بھیم کے اوپر ٹھہر کر اس کی نگرانی اور پشت پناہی کرنے لگا۔

Word by Word

• भीमस्य: of Bhima
• भीमस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• उपरि: upon/above
• उपरि: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings (best of kings)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• शक्रदेवः: Indra (the god Shakra)
• शक्रदेवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्रदेव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाबलः: mighty/very strong
• महाबलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Bhīma (Bhīmasena)
• Śakra (Indra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the Mahābhārata theme that human valor in dharmic struggle may be accompanied by divine oversight; power and success are not merely personal but can reflect providential support aligned with a larger moral order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Indra (Śakra), the powerful king of the gods, is positioned ‘above’ Bhīma—suggesting protection, encouragement, or a decisive divine presence connected with Bhīma’s actions in the battle context.