Shloka 104
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
अन्तरेण कलिड्डानां पाण्डवानां च वाहिनीम् । तां संततार दुस््तारां भीमसेनो महाबल:,कलिंग और पाण्डव-सेनाके बीचमें बहनेवाली उस रक्तकी दुस्तर नदीको महाबली भीमसेन अपने पराक्रमसे पार कर गये
antareṇa kaliṅgānāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca vāhinīm | tāṃ santatāra dustarāṃ bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: Zwischen den Heeren der Kaliṅga und der Pāṇḍava floss ein schrecklicher, schwer zu durchquerender Blutstrom; doch Bhīmasena, von gewaltiger Kraft, überschritt ihn allein durch die Macht seines Mutes—und drang ohne Zögern durch das Grauen des Krieges vor.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the terrifying moral and physical cost of war—symbolized by a ‘river of blood’—and simultaneously presents Bhīma’s unwavering kṣatriya resolve: in the face of overwhelming horror, he advances to fulfill his martial duty.
Sañjaya describes the clash between the Kaliṅga contingent and the Pāṇḍava forces. Amidst the slaughter, a metaphorical (or vividly described) river of blood lies between the armies, and Bhīmasena forces his way across it through sheer strength and courage.