Mahabharata · 7.169.46–47
॥
Devanāgarī
स्थित्वा विष्टभ्य चरणौ भीमेन शिनिपुंगवः ॥
निगृहीतः पदे षष्ठे बलेन बलिनां वरः ॥
अवरुह्य रथात् तं तु ह्रियमाणं बलीयसा ॥
उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा सहदेवो विशां पते ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sthitvā viṣṭabhya caraṇau bhīmena śinipuṃgavaḥ ||
nigṛhītaḥ pade ṣaṣṭhe balena balināṃ varaḥ ||
avaruhya rathāt taṃ tu hriyamāṇaṃ balīyasā ||
uvāca ślakṣṇayā vācā sahadevo viśāṃ pate ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
स्थित्वा विष्टभ्य चरणौsthitvā viṣṭabhya caraṇaustanding, bracing his feet; standing, planting his feet firm
भीमेन शिनिपुंगवःbhīmena śinipuṃgavaḥby Bhima, the bull of Shini; by Bhima, the bull of the Shini [clan]
निगृहीतः पदे षष्ठेnigṛhītaḥ pade ṣaṣṭhewas restrained at the sixth step; was checked at the sixth step
बलेन बलिनाम् वरःbalena balinām varaḥby force, the best of the strong; by strength, the best of the strong
अवरुह्य रथात् तम् तुavaruhya rathāt tam tudescending from his chariot, him; descending from his chariot, him
ह्रियमाणम् बलीयसाhriyamāṇam balīyasābeing dragged by the mighty one; being drawn along by the mighty one [Bhima]
उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचाuvāca ślakṣṇayā vācāsaid with a gentle word; spoke with a soft word
सहदेवः विशां पतेsahadevaḥ viśāṃ pateSahadeva, O lord of peoples; Sahadeva, O lord of peoples
Translation
Standing, bracing his feet, the bull of Shini was restrained by Bhima only at the sixth step, by force -- he, the best of the strong. Descending from his chariot, to him, as he was being dragged along by the mighty one [Bhima], Sahadeva spoke with a gentle word, O lord of peoples.
Version
e38bccc12f8e · published Jul 19, 2026, 5:08:17 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Even Satyaki's might was overcome only at the sixth step -- so great was his fury; and then Sahadeva enters with a "gentle word." What stands out is the alternation of strength and gentleness: where Bhima's arm held him, now the younger Pandava's speech softens him. The verse teaches that anger is quelled in two stages -- first the surge must be checked, then the heart softened; and a firm grip must be followed by a kind word, or the tamed force will flare up again.