Shloka 19
रथादवप्लुत्य गत: स भूमौ यत्नेन तस्मिन् प्रणिधाय चक्षु: । असिं समुद्यम्य सित॑ सुधारं कण्ठे पदा55क्रम्प च वेपमानम्,ऐसा कहकर अत्यन्त बलवान् वेगशाली एवं अद्वितीय वीर भीमसेन अपने रथसे कूदकर पृथ्वीपर आ गये और दुःशासनको मार डालनेकी इच्छासे सहसा उसकी ओर दौड़े। उन्होंने युद्धमें पराक्रम करके दुर्योधन और कर्णके सामने ही दुःशासनको उसी प्रकार धर दबाया, जैसे सिंह किसी विशाल हाथीपर आक्रमण कर रहा हो। वे यत्नपूर्वक उसीकी ओर दृष्टि जमाये हुए थे। उन्होंने उत्तम धारवाली सफेद तलवार उठा ली और उसके गलेपर लात मारी। उस समय दुःशासन थरथर काँप रहा था
rathād avaplutya gataḥ sa bhūmau yatnena tasmin praṇidhāya cakṣuḥ | asiṃ samudyamya sitaṃ sudhāraṃ kaṇṭhe padākrampya ca vepamānam ||
Sañjaya said: Leaping down from his chariot, that mighty warrior came onto the ground, fixing his gaze intently upon him. Raising a bright, keen-edged sword, Bhīma pressed his foot upon Duḥśāsana’s throat as the latter trembled—an act driven by fierce resolve in the midst of war, where wrath and retribution eclipse restraint and foreshadow the grim fulfillment of Bhīma’s vow.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the moral universe of the Mahābhārata, grievous wrongdoing invites severe consequences: Bhīma’s relentless focus and harsh action embody retributive justice within wartime kṣatriya conduct, while also warning how anger and vengeance can drive actions to extreme, ethically fraught limits.
Sañjaya describes Bhīma leaping down from his chariot, fixing his gaze on Duḥśāsana, brandishing a bright sharp sword, and pressing his foot on Duḥśāsana’s throat as Duḥśāsana trembles—depicting Bhīma’s overpowering capture and imminent violent intent in the battle.