Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

ततो भीमो महावेगां त्यक्त्वा गुर्वी महागदाम्‌

Transliteration

tato bhīmo mahāvegāṃ tyaktvā gurvīṃ mahāgadām

Translation

三阇耶说道：“随后，毗摩舍下那柄沉重而威猛、挥击如雷的巨槌，转而在战阵深处变换身势——此举昭示他在正法之战的无尽逼迫中，已作战术之变。”

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्
• Form: true

• भीमः: Bhima
• भीमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महावेगाम्: very swift/with great speed (fem.)
• महावेगाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावेग
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned/left
• त्यक्त्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• गुर्वीम्: heavy, weighty (fem.)
• गुर्वीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• महागदाम्: the great mace
• महागदाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महागदा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīma
• mahāgadā (mace)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined action in war: even a mighty warrior must adapt means to circumstance. Strength is not merely in wielding a weapon, but in choosing and relinquishing tools appropriately while remaining within the demands of kṣatriya-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Bhīma sets aside his heavy, powerful mace. This indicates a shift in immediate combat method—either to take up another weapon, engage differently, or respond to a changing tactical moment on the battlefield.