Shloka 633

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

Devanagari script

मार्गाश्न चरतश्षित्रं व्यस्मयन्त रणे जना: । वे बार-बार उछलते

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | mārgāś ca carataś citraṃ vyasmayanta raṇe janāḥ |

Translation

三阇耶说：他在战场上往来驰走，施展种种奇异多变的身法与迅疾转向，使阵中之人无不惊叹。见那名闻遐迩的毗摩塞那之勇——一次又一次腾跃，向四方疾冲，展露非凡战术——观者皆为其武烈之气所震骇。

Word by Word

• मार्गान्: paths/ways
• मार्गान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• आशु: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु

• चरतः: of (him) moving/roaming
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• चित्रम्: wonderful/strange (feat)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विस्मयन्ते: were amazed / marvel
• Type: Verb
• Root: विस्मि
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Third, Plural

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīmasena
• raṇa (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the awe inspired by disciplined martial prowess in a dharmic war: extraordinary strength and skill, when aligned with one’s warrior duty, becomes a visible force that shapes morale and perception on the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Bhīmasena moving through the battlefield with striking, unusual maneuvers—changing directions, surging along different courses—so that the warriors and onlookers are repeatedly astonished by his power and tactics.