Shloka 35
Bhīṣma–Karṇa Saṃvāda on the Śaraśayyā (भीष्म–कर्ण संवादः शरशय्यायाम्)
द्रोणश्न विवरं दृष्टवा भीमसेनं शिलीमुखै: । विव्याध बाणैर्निशितै: पञठचषष्टिभिरायसै:,एकैकं त्रिभिरानर्च्छत् कड़ुकबर्हिणवाजितै: । उसके बाद सुशर्मा और कृपाचार्यको भी तीन-तीन बाणोंसे बींध डाला। राजेन्द्र! फिर समरांगणमें प्राग्ज्योतिषनरेश भगदत्त, सिन्धुराज जयद्रथ, चित्रसेन, विकर्ण, कृतवर्मा, दुर्मीषण तथा महारथी विन्द और अनुविन्द--इनमैंसे प्रत्येकको गीधकी पाँखसे युक्त तीन- तीन बाणोंद्वारा विशेष पीड़ा दी इसी समय द्रोणाचार्यने अवसर देखकर लोहेके बने हुए पैंसठ पैने बाणोंद्वारा भीमसेनको बींध डाला
sañjaya uvāca | droṇas tu vivaraṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenaṃ śilimukhaiḥ | vivyādha bāṇair niśitaiḥ pañcaṣaṣṭibhir āyasaiḥ | ekaikaṃ tribhir ānarcchet kaṅkubārhiṇavājitaiḥ |
Sañjaya said: Droṇa, perceiving an opening, struck Bhīmasena with sharp, iron-tipped arrows—sixty-five in number. Then he also pierced the other warriors with three arrows apiece, using shafts adorned with the feathers of the kaṅku bird.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, mastery and alertness exploit even a small ‘vivara’ (opening). It implicitly warns that power and skill, when yoked to conflict, intensify suffering; therefore discernment about the causes and conduct of war remains ethically significant even amid kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya reports that Droṇa notices a vulnerability and showers Bhīma with sixty-five sharp iron arrows, then strikes other warriors individually with three arrows each, using feather-adorned shafts—depicting Droṇa’s tactical precision and dominance in the battle moment.