Shloka 51

Devanagari script

संन्यवर्तत तं भीमो वार्यमाण: शितै: शरै: । शकुनिस्तस्य राजेन्द्र वामपाश्वे स्तनान्तरे

Transliteration

sannyavartata taṃ bhīmo vāryamāṇaḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ | śakunistasya rājendra vāmapārśve stanāntare

Translation

Sañjaya nói: “Dù bị chặn bởi những mũi tên sắc, Bhīma không lùi; chàng quay lại lao vào giao chiến. Rồi Śakuni, hỡi bệ hạ, đánh trúng chàng ở bên trái, giữa ngực và sườn.”

Word by Word

संन्यवर्ततturned back / withdrew

तम्him

भीमःBhīma

वार्यमाणःbeing restrained / being warded off

शितैःwith sharp

शरैःarrows

शकुनिःŚakuni

तस्यof him / his

राजेन्द्रO king of kings (O best of kings)

वामपाश्वेon the left side

स्तनान्तरेin the space between the breasts / at the chest

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīma

Śakuni

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

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 highlights steadfastness under adversity: even when restrained by painful attacks, a warrior committed to his duty does not abandon the field. Ethically, it also reflects the harsh reality of war—skill and resolve are measured through endurance and the capacity to continue despite injury.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma, though impeded by sharp arrows, turns back to re-engage. At that moment Śakuni hits Bhīma on the left side in the chest/flank region, marking a specific wound in the ongoing battle.