Shloka 76

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

Devanagari script

भीमसेनं रणे राजन्‌ समन्तात्‌ पर्यवारयत्‌ | नरेश्वर! कलिंगोंके कई सहस्न रथ और दस हजार हाथियों एवं निषादोंके साथ केतुमान्‌ उस रणस्थलमें भीमसेनको सब ओरसे रोकने लगा

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

bhīmasenaṁ raṇe rājan samantāt paryavārayat |

na­reśvara kaliṅgānāṁ bahavaḥ sahasraśo rathā daśa-sāhasrāṇi ca hastinaḥ niṣādaiḥ saha ketumān raṇa-sthale bhīmasenaṁ sarvataḥ paryavārayat |

kṣurābhyāṁ cakra-rakṣī ca kaliṅgasya mahābalau |

satyadevaṁ ca satyaṁ ca prāhiṇod yama-sādanam ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：大王啊，在战场上毗摩仙那被四面围困。人中之主啊，计都曼在数千迦陵伽战车、一万战象与尼沙陀众的拥护下，从各方包围并阻遏毗摩。随后，他以两支锋利的剃刃箭，将迦陵伽王的两位强悍车轮护卫——萨提亚提婆与萨提亚——送往阎摩之所。

Word by Word

• भीमसेनम्: Bhimasena
• भीमसेनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• समन्तात्: from all sides / all around
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्तात्

• पर्यवारयत्: surrounded / hemmed in
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + अव + √वृ (वारयति)
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• क्षुराभ्याम्: with two razor(-edged) arrows
• क्षुराभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• चक्ररक्षी: the wheel-guard (protector of the chariot-wheel)
• चक्ररक्षी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र-रक्षिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कालिङ्गस्य: of the Kalinga (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिङ्ग
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• महाबलौ: two very strong (men)
• महाबलौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-बल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• सत्यदेवम्: Satyadeva
• सत्यदेवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यदेव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• सत्यम्: Satya (a warrior named Satya)
• सत्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• प्राहिणोत्: sent / dispatched
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √हि (हिनोति)
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यमसादनम्: to Yama’s abode (death)
• यमसादनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम-सादन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Ketumān
• Kaliṅga
• Niṣādas
• Satyadeva
• Satya
• Yama
• chariots (ratha)
• elephants (hastin)
• razor-edged arrows (kṣura)
• chariot wheel-guards (cakra-rakṣin)
• battlefield (raṇa-sthala)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the harsh dharma of battlefield duty: warriors face encirclement, counterattack, and death as immediate consequences of martial engagement; it also highlights how leadership and tactical formations (surrounding, chariot-guards) shape outcomes.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Bhīma is surrounded by Ketumān’s Kaliṅga forces—chariots, elephants, and Niṣādas. In the ensuing clash, two prominent chariot wheel-guards, Satyadeva and Satya, are struck down and sent to Yama’s realm.