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Shloka 216

Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)

शक्रदेवो5भिदुद्राव शरैरवकिरन्‌ शितै: । शत्रुदमन भीमसेनको वहाँ रथहीन हुआ देख शक्रदेव तीखे बाणोंकी वर्षा करता हुआ उनकी ओर दौड़ा

śakradevo 'bhidudrāva śarair avakiran śitaiḥ | śatrudamana bhīmasenako vahāṁ rathahīna huā dekh śakradeva tīkhē bāṇoṁkī varṣā kartā huā unakī ora dauṛā

散阇耶说道:见到降伏诸敌的毗摩塞那在彼处失却战车,释迦罗提婆便疾驰而上,锐箭如雨倾洒其身。此事彰显战斗无情的推进:对手一旦暴露破绽,优势便立刻被攫取;而武勇也在命运骤然翻覆之际受其考验。

शक्रदेवःShakra (Indra), the god
शक्रदेवः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशक्रदेव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अभिदुद्रावrushed towards, ran at
अभिदुद्राव:
TypeVerb
Rootद्रु (धावने)
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular
शरैःwith arrows
शरैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
अवकिरन्showered, scattered down
अवकिरन्:
TypeVerb
Rootकॄ (क्षेपणे) / अवकॄ
FormImperfect (Laṅ), Third, Singular
शितैःsharp (ones)
शितैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootशित
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
B
Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
Ś
Śakradeva (Śakra-like warrior/epithet)
A
arrows (śara)
C
chariot (ratha)

Educational Q&A

In the battlefield ethic of kṣatriya-dharma, vigilance and readiness are paramount: when a warrior becomes exposed (here, chariotless), the opponent presses the advantage. The verse highlights how swiftly circumstances change in war and how courage is measured in moments of sudden vulnerability.

Sañjaya reports that Bhīmasena has become rathahīna (without his chariot). Seeing this, Śakradeva charges toward him and showers him with sharp arrows, intensifying the immediate danger to Bhīma.