Shloka 38

Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa

Resolve for the Mace Duel

Devanagari script

स भिवत्त्वा स्तम्भितं तोयं स्कन्‍्धे कृत्वा5ड5यसीं गदाम्‌

Transliteration

sa bhivattvā stambhitaṃ toyaṃ skandhe kṛtvā ayasīṃ gadām

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Sau khi cúi chào theo lễ, chàng trấn tĩnh thân tâm, đặt cây chùy sắt lên vai rồi bước tới với ý chí được chế ngự. Khoảnh khắc ấy nêu bật kỷ luật của chiến sĩ: ngay giữa bạo lực, hành động vẫn được mở đầu bằng nghi lễ kính trọng và sự tự chủ.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभिवत्त्वा: having saluted
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√वन्द्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• स्तम्भितम्: stopped, made motionless
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तम्भित (from √स्तम्भ्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• स्कन्धे: on (his) shoulder
• स्कन्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्ध
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having placed/made
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• अयसीम्: iron (made of iron)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अयस (अयस्) → अयसी (adj.)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• गदाम्: mace
• गदाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• iron mace (ayasī gadā)
• shoulder (skandha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a battlefield setting, the text highlights self-control and proper conduct: a warrior’s power is to be governed by discipline and respectful observance, not mere rage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates a warrior’s immediate action: after offering a salutation, he composes himself and takes up an iron mace on his shoulder, signaling readiness for the next martial engagement.