Shloka 4

Chapter 89: Bhīma dispatched to protect Ghaṭotkaca amid escalating engagements

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठटिरो5पि कौरव्यो यमाभ्यां सहित: प्रभु: । महेष्वासं नरव्याप्र॑ भीष्मं शान्तनवं ययौ

Transliteration

Yudhiṣṭhiro ’pi Kauravyo Yamābhyāṃ sahitaḥ prabhuḥ | Maheṣvāsaṃ naravyāghraṃ Bhīṣmaṃ Śāntanavaṃ yayau ||

Translation

سنجے نے کہا—کوروؤں کے سردار، صاحبِ اقتدار یُدھِشٹھِر بھی یم کے دونوں بیٹوں (نکُل اور سہدیو) کے ساتھ، اس مہا دھنوردھر، مردوں کے شیر، شانتنو کے فرزند بھیشم کا مقابلہ کرنے کے لیے آگے بڑھے۔

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• कौरव्यः: the Kaurava (descendant of Kuru)
• कौरव्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यमाभ्याम्: with the two sons of Yama (Nakula and Sahadeva)
• यमाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• सहितः: accompanied (together) with
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रभुः: the lord/mighty one
• प्रभुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महेष्वासम्: the great bowman
• महेष्वासम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नरव्याघ्रम्: the tiger among men (best of men)
• नरव्याघ्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरव्याघ्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भीष्मम्: Bhīṣma
• भीष्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शान्तनवम्: son of Śantanu
• शान्तनवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्तनव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ययौ: went/advanced
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Nakula
• Sahadeva
• Bhīṣma
• Śāntanu
• Kuru dynasty

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: even a righteous king must act decisively in a just war, balancing reverence for elders with the obligation to oppose adharma. Ethical tension is implicit—duty may require confronting those who are personally venerable.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Yudhiṣṭhira, accompanied by Nakula and Sahadeva, advances to face Bhīṣma—renowned as a supreme archer and foremost warrior—indicating a direct engagement with the Kaurava commander on the battlefield.