Shloka 26
विशोक प्रेक्ष्य निर्भिन्नं भीमसेन: प्रतापवान् । मद्रराजं त्रिभिर्बाणैर्बाह्लोरुगसि चार्पयत्,उस समय प्रतापी भीमसेनने अपने सारथि विशोकको अत्यन्त क्षत-विक्षत हुआ देख तीन बाणोंसे मद्रराज शल्यकी भुजाओं तथा छातीमें प्रहार किया
viśokaṃ prekṣya nirbhinnaṃ bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān | madrarājaṃ tribhir bāṇair bāhlor ugasi cārpayat ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing his charioteer Viśoka grievously wounded, the mighty Bhīmasena, stirred by warrior resolve, struck the king of Madra, Śalya, with three arrows, planting them in his arms and chest—fierce retaliation to shield his own and answer injury with immediate force upon the battlefield.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-duty in war: when one’s ally is harmed, a warrior is expected to respond decisively to protect and uphold the fighting spirit of his side. It also shows how compassion for one’s own (seeing the charioteer wounded) can immediately translate into forceful action in a dharmic battlefield context.
Sañjaya narrates that Bhīma sees his charioteer Viśoka badly wounded. Enraged and resolute, Bhīma shoots three arrows at Śalya, the king of Madra, striking him in the arms and chest.