Shloka 40
भीष्मस्य जलप्रार्थना — अर्जुनस्य पर्जन्यास्त्रप्रयोगः — दुर्योधनं प्रति सन्ध्युपदेशः
Bhīṣma’s request for water; Arjuna’s Parjanya-astra; counsel to Duryodhana on reconciliation
अथेतरे महेष्वासा: पठडच पञ्च शिलीमुखान् | भीमसेनं समुद्दिश्य प्रेषयामासुरोजसा,इनके सिवा दूसरे धनुर्धर वीरोंने भी भीमसेनको लक्ष्य करके बलपूर्वक पाँच-पाँच बाण चलाये
athe tare maheṣvāsāḥ pañca pañca śilīmukhān | bhīmasenaṃ samuddiśya preṣayāmāsur ojasā ||
Sañjaya said: Then the other mighty bowmen, too, taking Bhīmasena as their target, forcefully discharged five arrows each.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war governed by kṣatriya-dharma, opponents often act collectively and strategically to neutralize a powerful fighter; it implicitly contrasts battlefield necessity with the ethical weight of concentrated violence directed at a single person.
Sañjaya reports that additional great archers join the attack and, aiming specifically at Bhīma, each releases five arrows with great force, escalating the intensity around Bhīma in the ongoing battle.