Mahabharata · 7.168.19–20
॥
Devanāgarī
स त्वम् एवंविधं जानन् भ्रातरं मां नरर्षभ ॥
द्रोणपुत्राद् भयं कर्तुं नार्हस्य् अमितविक्रम ॥
अथ वा तिष्ठ बीभत्सो सह सर्वैर् नरर्षभैः ॥
अहम् एनं गदापाणिर् जेष्याम्य् एको महाहवे ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sa tvam evaṃvidhaṃ jānan bhrātaraṃ māṃ nararṣabha ||
droṇaputrād bhayaṃ kartuṃ nārhasy amitavikrama ||
atha vā tiṣṭha bībhatso saha sarvair nararṣabhaiḥ ||
aham enaṃ gadāpāṇir jeṣyāmy eko mahāhave ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
सः त्वम् एवंविधम् जानन्saḥ tvam evaṃvidham jānanyou, knowing me thus; you, knowing me to be such
भ्रातरम् माम् नरर्षभbhrātaram mām nararṣabhayour brother, O bull among men; me your brother, O bull among men
द्रोणपुत्रात् भयम् कर्तुम्droṇaputrāt bhayam kartumto fear on account of Drona's son; to be afraid because of Drona's son
न अर्हसि अमितविक्रमna arhasi amitavikramaought not, O boundlessly valiant one; should not, O measurelessly valiant one
अथ वा तिष्ठ बीभत्सोatha vā tiṣṭha bībhatsoor else stand, Bibhatsu; or else remain, Bibhatsu
सह सर्वैः नरर्षभैःsaha sarvaiḥ nararṣabhaiḥtogether with all the bulls among men; along with all the bulls among men
अहम् एनम् गदापाणिःaham enam gadāpāṇiḥI, mace in hand; I, with the mace in my grasp
जेष्यामि एकः महाहवेjeṣyāmi ekaḥ mahāhaveshall conquer him alone in the great battle; shall vanquish him alone in the great combat
Translation
"You, knowing me, your brother, to be such, O bull among men, ought not to fear on account of Drona's son, O you of boundless valor. Or else stand aside, Bibhatsu, together with all the bulls among men; I, mace in hand, shall conquer him alone in the great battle."
Version
9a83aaad54e4 · published Jul 19, 2026, 5:08:17 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Bhima cheers his disheartened brother with his own boldness: "stand aside -- I alone shall overcome him." It is telling that after his reproaches he turns to offer support -- proposing himself as a shield for all. The verse teaches that strengthening a comrade is likewise a warrior's duty; one who sees a brother in despair is called not only to rebuke but also to sustain him, taking the burden upon himself if need be, so that the faltering spirit may find its firmness again.