Shloka 41
Saubhadra under Concentrated Assault; Pārṣata’s Intervention and Escalation
कलिड्नां च समरे भीमस्य च महात्मन: । जगत: प्रक्षयकरं घोररूपं भयावहम्
kaliṅgānāṃ ca samare bhīmasya ca mahātmanaḥ | jagataḥ prakṣayakaraṃ ghorarūpaṃ bhayāvaham ||
Sañjaya said: Then, on the battlefield, a dread encounter began between the Kalinga warriors and the great-souled Bhīma—terrible to behold, fear-inspiring, and as though capable of bringing ruin upon the whole world. The scene underscores how unchecked martial fury can appear apocalyptic, even when fought within the larger framework of a dharma-war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the overwhelming, world-shaking nature of war: when martial rage peaks, it seems capable of consuming everything. Even within a dharma-framed conflict, the text reminds the listener of war’s terrifying cost and the ethical weight borne by those who unleash such force.
Sañjaya reports that a fierce battle erupts between Bhīma and the Kalinga fighters. The combat is described as extraordinarily dreadful and fear-inducing, emphasizing Bhīma’s formidable power and the intensity of the clash on the battlefield.