Shloka 30

Adhyāya 35 — Bhīmasena’s Counter-Encirclement and the Karṇa Engagement Escalation

Devanagari script

यदा द्रक्ष्यसि भीमेन कुज्जरानीकमाहवे

Transliteration

yadā drakṣyasi bhīmena kuñjarānīkam āhave

Translation

Śalya nói: “Khi giữa chiến địa ngươi thấy Bhīma nghiền nát đội tượng binh, bấy giờ ngươi sẽ hiểu sức nặng thật sự của uy lực ấy, và hiểm họa của việc coi thường cơn phẫn nộ chính nghĩa khi đã bùng lên trong chiến tranh.”

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा

• द्रक्ष्यसि: you will see
• द्रक्ष्यसि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Lṛṭ (simple future), 2, singular, Parasmaipada

• भीमेन: by Bhima
• भीमेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• कुञ्जर-अनीकम्: the elephant-corps/elephant-host
• कुञ्जर-अनीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुञ्जर + अनीक
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• आहवे: in battle
• आहवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śalya
• Bhīma
• elephant-corps (kuñjarānīka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse warns against complacency in war: true strength is known by direct encounter, and pride that dismisses an opponent invites ruin. It also underscores the ethical seriousness of battle—might, once unleashed, has irreversible consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śalya addresses his listener (contextually, within the Karṇa Parva exchanges) and points to a coming battlefield sight: Bhīma confronting and overwhelming an elephant-division. The line functions as a forewarning meant to correct misjudgment about Bhīma’s capacity in combat.