Shloka 51
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
ततस्तु नृपतिः क्रुद्धों भीमसेनं स्तनान्तरे
tatastu nṛpatiḥ kruddho bhīmasenaṃ stanāntare
Sañjaya sprach: Dann schlug der König, von Zorn entflammt, Bhīmasena in die Brustgegend—eine Tat, die zeigt, wie die Wut im Kampf selbst Herrscher zu unmittelbarer körperlicher Gewalt treibt statt zu maßvoller Zurückhaltung.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how krodha (anger) can overtake judgment in war, pushing a ruler toward immediate physical aggression; it implicitly contrasts impulsive wrath with the ideal of disciplined, dharmic conduct even in battle.
Sañjaya reports that an enraged king attacks Bhīmasena, aiming at his chest/torso, marking an intense moment of close combat within the Bhīṣma Parva battle narration.