Shloka 38

Bhīmasena’s Kalinga Engagement and the Approach of Bhīṣma (भीमसेन-कालिङ्ग-संग्रामः)

Devanagari script

बाहुभिश्षचापरे छिन्नैः पार्श्ेषु च विदारिता: । क्रन्दन्त: समदृश्यन्त तृषिता जीवितेप्सव:

Transliteration

bāhubhiś cāpare chinnaiḥ pārśveṣu ca vidāritāḥ | krandantaḥ samadṛśyanta tṛṣitā jīvitepsavaḥ, bhārata |

Translation

三阇耶说道：又有人臂膀被斩断，肋侧与肋骨被撕裂开来；他们在剧痛中哀号，干渴难耐，却仍执著于生—噢，婆罗多啊—这景象显出战争阴沉的道德代价：纵在彻底毁灭之中，求生的本能仍不肯熄灭。

Word by Word

• बाहुभिः: with arms
• बाहुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• छिन्नैः: with severed (ones)
• छिन्नैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्न
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• पार्श्वेषु: in/on the sides (ribs/flanks)
• पार्श्वेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• विदारिताः: torn asunder
• विदारिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विदारित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• क्रन्दन्तः: crying, wailing
• क्रन्दन्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रन्दत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• समदृश्यन्त: were seen/appeared
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+दृश्
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Plural, Atmanepada

• तृषिताः: thirsty
• तृषिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृषित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• जीवितेप्सवः: desiring life
• जीवितेप्सवः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीवित-ईप्सु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (addressed as Bhārata)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the ethical gravity of war: even amid horrific mutilation, beings cling to life. It invites reflection on dharma and the human cost behind martial glory, stirring compassion and sobriety about violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the battlefield scene: many warriors lie grievously wounded—arms cut off, sides torn—crying out, tormented by thirst, yet still yearning to survive.