Shloka 30
तथागते भीममभीस्तवात्मज: ससार राजावरज: किरन् शरै: | तमभ्यधावत् त्वरितो वृकोदरो महारुरुं सिंह इवाभिपेदिवान्
tathāgate bhīmam abhīṣṭavātmajaḥ sasāra rājāvarajaḥ kiran śaraiḥ | tam abhyadhāvat tvarito vṛkodaro mahāruruṃ siṃha ivābhipedivān |
Sañjaya sprach: Als Bhīma so herantrat, stürmte der jüngere Bruder deines Sohnes (des Königs jüngerer Bruder) auf ihn zu und überschüttete ihn mit Pfeilen. Da stieß Vṛkodara rasch geradewegs auf ihn vor—wie ein Löwe, der auf eine große Schlange springt.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its battlefield form: when confronted with aggression, a warrior is expected to respond with courage and decisive action. The lion-and-serpent simile underscores fearlessness and the moral intensity of combat duty, even amid personal enmity.
As Bhīma advances, Duḥśāsana (Duryodhana’s younger brother) rushes at him, shooting arrows. Bhīma immediately charges back at high speed, compared to a lion pouncing on a great serpent.