Shloka 74
अध्याय ६० — कर्णस्य पाञ्चाल-सोमक-निग्रहः
Karna’s Suppression of the Panchala–Somaka Forces
विमुज्चन्त: शकृन्मूत्रं गजाः प्रादुद्रुवुर्भशम् । बिजलीकी गड़गड़ाहटके समान उनकी प्रत्यंचाकी भयंकर टंकार सुनकर बहुत-से हाथी मल-मूत्र करते हुए बड़े जोरसे भाग रहे थे || ७३ $ ।। भीमसेनस्य तत् कर्म राजन्नेकस्य धीमत: । निधघ्नतः सर्वभूतानि रुद्रस्येव च निर्बभौ,राजन! अकेले बुद्धिमान् भीमसेनका वह कर्म समस्त प्राणियोंका संहार करते हुए रुद्रके समान जान पड़ता था
sañjaya uvāca |
vimucantaḥ śakṛn-mūtraṃ gajāḥ prādudruvur bhaśam |
bhīmasenasya tat karma rājan ekasya dhīmataḥ |
nidhaghnataḥ sarvabhūtāni rudrasyeva ca nirbabhau ||
Sañjaya sprach: Als sie das schreckliche Schnarren der Bogensehne hörten—wie das Grollen des Blitzes—flohen viele Elefanten, vor Angst Kot und Urin lassend, in wilder Hast. O König, die Taten Bhīmasenas—allein, doch standhaft und klug—erschienen wie die des Rudra selbst, als er ringsum Lebewesen niederschlug.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of war: even when a warrior’s valor is extraordinary, its visible outcome is terror and widespread destruction. By likening Bhīma’s action to Rudra, the text frames battlefield prowess as a force that can resemble divine annihilation—inviting reflection on the cost of violence and the thin line between heroism and devastation.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that elephants panic and flee, involuntarily voiding in fear, upon hearing the terrifying bowstring twang and witnessing the onslaught. He then describes Bhīmasena’s solitary, powerful combat as appearing Rudra-like, cutting down beings across the field.