Shloka 32
भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
Devanagari script
ते गजा गिरिसंकाशा: क्षरन्तो रुधिरं बहु भीमसेनस्य गदया भिन्नमस्तकपिण्डका:
Transliteration
te gajā girisaṅkāśāḥ kṣaranto rudhiraṃ bahu bhīmasenasya gadayā bhinnamastakapiṇḍakāḥ
Translation
毗耶娑波耶那说道：那些大象高大如山，鲜血汩汩涌流；它们的头骨被毗摩塞那的巨槌击碎，裂成无数碎片。
Word by Word
तेthey/those
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
गजाःelephants
गजाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगज
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
गिरि-संकाशाःmountain-like
गिरि-संकाशाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootगिरि-संकाश
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
क्षरन्तःshedding, flowing out
क्षरन्तः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootक्षर्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural, शतृ (present active participle)
रुधिरम्blood
रुधिरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरुधिर
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
बहुmuch, a lot
बहु:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootबहु
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
भीमसेनस्यof Bhimasena
भीमसेनस्य:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun (Proper)
Rootभीमसेन
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
गदयाwith a mace
गदया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootगदा
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
भिन्न-मस्तक-पिण्डकाःhaving their head-masses split (i.e., with shattered heads)
भिन्न-मस्तक-पिण्डकाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootभिन्न-मस्तक-पिण्डक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
VaiśampāyanaB
Bhīmasena (Bhīma)G
gajāḥ (elephants)G
gadā (mace)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the terrifying efficacy of force in warfare: even the strongest creatures fall when struck by superior power and weaponry. Ethically, it invites reflection on the heavy cost of violence and the grim reality behind martial glory.
Vaiśampāyana describes elephants in battle that look like mountains but are bleeding profusely because Bhīmasena has struck them with his mace, shattering their skulls into pieces.