Shloka 1131
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
हताश्वे स रथे तिष्ठन् भीमसेन: प्रतापवान् । शक्तिं चिक्षेप तरसा गाड्रेयस्य रथं प्रति
hatāśve sa rathe tiṣṭhan bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān | śaktiṃ cikṣepa tarasā gāḍreyasya rathaṃ prati ||
Sañjaya sprach: Obwohl die Pferde seines Streitwagens erschlagen waren, blieb der mächtige und tapfere Bhīmasena unbeirrt auf dem Wagen stehen und schleuderte mit jäher Wucht den Śakti-Speer geradewegs auf den Wagen Gāḍreyas.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness and kṣatriya resolve: even when materially disadvantaged (a chariot without horses), a warrior committed to his duty does not collapse into despair but acts decisively within the harsh framework of battlefield dharma.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma, standing on a chariot whose horses have been killed, forcefully hurls a śakti (spear/javelin) toward the chariot of Gāḍreya, continuing the combat despite the setback.