Shloka 28
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
नक्षत्रैरर्धचन्द्रश्न शातकुम्भमयैश्चितम् । नरश्रेष्ठ तब भीमसेनने अत्यन्त वेगशालिनी एवं भारी और विशाल गदाको वहीं छोड़कर अत्यन्त भयंकर कर्म करनेकी इच्छासे तलवार खींच ली तथा ऋषभके चमड़ेकी बनी हुई अनुपम ढाल हाथमें ले ली। राजन्! उस ढालमें सुवर्णमय नक्षत्र और अर्धचन्द्रके आकारकी फूलियाँ जड़ी हुई थीं ।।
nakṣatrair ardhacandraiś ca śātakumbhamayaiś citam | narāśreṣṭha tadā bhīmaseno 'tyantavegaśālinīm evaṃ bhārīṃ viśālāṃ gadāṃ tatraiva tyaktvā 'tyantabhīṣaṇakarmecchayā khaḍgaṃ niṣkṛṣya ṛṣabhacarmakṛtām anupamāṃ phalakaṃ pāṇau jagrāha | rājan tasmin phalake suvarṇamayāni nakṣatrāṇy ardhacandrākṛtayaś ca phullikāḥ khacitā āsan || tataḥ kruddhaḥ kaliṅgarājo dhanujyām avamṛjya sarpaviṣopamaṃ bhīṣaṇaṃ bāṇam ādāya bhīmasenavadhecchayā tam abhyapātayat ||
Sañjaya said: O best of men, Bhīmasena then cast aside his exceedingly swift, heavy, and massive mace on the spot. Longing to perform a most dreadful deed, he drew his sword and took up in his hand an incomparable shield made of bull-hide. O King, that shield was inlaid with golden star-motifs and studs shaped like crescent moons. Then the king of Kaliṅga, inflamed with anger, rubbed and set his bowstring, seized a terrible arrow—venomous like a serpent—and, intent on Bhīma’s death, launched it at him.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the warrior ethic (kṣatriya-dharma) in which resolve and readiness are paramount, while also showing how anger (krodha) drives lethal intent. It implicitly warns that rage can sharpen violence, even as duty and courage demand disciplined action in battle.
Bhīma changes tactics: he leaves his heavy mace, draws a sword, and raises a richly ornamented bull-hide shield. In response, the enraged king of Kaliṅga prepares his bow and shoots a terrifying, serpent-like arrow at Bhīma, aiming to kill him.