Shloka 16
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
त॑ तु दुर्योधन:षष्ट्या विद्ध्वा भीम॑ महाबलम् | त्रिभिरन्यै: सुनिशितैर्विशोकं प्रत्यविध्यत,यह देख दुर्योधनने साठ बाणोंसे महाबली भीमसेनको घायल करके अन्य तीन पैने बाणोंसे सारथि विशोकको भी घायल कर दिया
taṁ tu duryodhanaḥ ṣaṣṭyā viddhvā bhīmaṁ mahābalam | tribhir anyaiḥ suniśitair viśokaṁ pratyavidhyata ||
Sañjaya said: Duryodhana, having pierced the mighty Bhīma with sixty arrows, then struck the charioteer Viśoka as well with three other exceedingly sharp shafts.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare tends to intensify beyond duels between principal heroes: strategic aims (disabling the enemy’s mobility by striking the charioteer) can override restraint, illustrating the ethical strain that battle places on dharma and humane limits.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana first wounds Bhīma with sixty arrows, then follows up by wounding Bhīma’s charioteer Viśoka with three additional sharp arrows, aiming to weaken Bhīma’s effectiveness in combat.