Shloka 10

भीष्मवधाय प्रयाणम् — The Advance toward Bhīṣma and Counter-Engagements

Devanagari script

तानापतत एवाजौ भीमसेनो महाबल: । प्रत्युद्ययाौ महाराज गज: प्रतिगजानिव

Transliteration

tān āpatata evājau bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ | pratyudyayau mahārāja gajaḥ pratigajān iva ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：大王啊！见他们在战场上扑来，力大无穷的毗摩迎面而进，犹如巨象直冲敌象。

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• आपततः: of the two rushing/attacking
• आपततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Kridanta
• Root: आपत् (धातु: पत्) / आपत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अजौ: in battle
• अजौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (युद्ध)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• भीमसेनः: Bhimasena
• भीमसेनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाबलः: mighty-strong
• महाबलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रत्युद्ययौ: went forth to meet/advanced against
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उद्-या (धातु: या)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

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

• गजः: an elephant
• गजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रतिगजान्: counter-elephants/opposing elephants
• प्रतिगजान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिगज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• battlefield (āja)
• elephant (gaja)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores kṣatriya-dharma: when aggression comes in battle, a warrior who has taken up the righteous fight should meet it with steadiness and courage, not with panic or retreat. The elephant simile conveys controlled power—strength directed toward duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that as the opposing fighters charge in the battle, Bhīma—renowned for immense strength—moves forward to confront them, likened to an elephant rushing against rival elephants.