Shloka 21
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 109 — Karṇa–Bhīma Yuddha and Durmukha’s Fall (कर्णभीमयुद्धम्; दुर्मुखवधः)
त॑ रणे रभसं दृष्टवा सहदेवं महाबलम् | दुर्मुखो नवभिर्बाणैस्ताडयामास भारत,भारत! रणक्षेत्रमें महाबली सहदेवका वेग बढ़ता देख दुर्मुखने नौ बाणोंद्वारा उन्हें घायल कर दिया
taṁ raṇe rabhasaṁ dṛṣṭvā sahadevaṁ mahābalam | durmukho navabhir bāṇais tāḍayāmāsa bhārata ||
Sañjaya sprach: O Bhārata! Als Durmukha sah, wie der überaus starke Sahadeva mit wildem Schwung im Kampf voranstürmte, traf er ihn auf dem Schlachtfeld mit neun Pfeilen und verwundete ihn.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reciprocity of warfare: courage and forward momentum draw immediate resistance. Ethically, it reflects kṣatriya-dharma—enduring injury and continuing one’s duty without losing resolve, even when violence is unavoidable.
On the battlefield, Sahadeva advances powerfully. Durmukha notices this surge and counters by shooting nine arrows, striking and wounding Sahadeva. Sañjaya reports this to Dhṛtarāṣṭra.