Shloka 18
समरे प्रेक्ष्य यन्तारं विशोक॑ तु वृकोदर: । पीडित॑ विशिखैस्ती#्ष्णैस्तव पुत्रेण धन्विना,आपके धनुर्धर पुत्रद्वारा समरांगणमें अपने सारथि विशोकको तीखे बाणोंके आघातसे पीड़ित होता देख भीमसेन सह न सके। उन्होंने कुपित होकर अपना दिव्य धनुष हाथमें लिया। महाराज! भरतश्रेष्ठ] फिर आपके पुत्रके वधके लिये अत्यन्त कुपित होकर उन्होंने पंखयुक्त क्षुरप्रका संधान किया और उसके द्वारा राजा दुर्योधनके उत्तम धनुषको काट डाला
saṃgare prekṣya yantāraṃ viśokaṃ tu vṛkodaraḥ | pīḍitaṃ viśikhaiḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ tava putreṇa dhanvinā ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing his charioteer Viśoka wounded on the battlefield by the sharp arrows shot by your son, the bowman, Vṛkodara (Bhīma) could not endure it. Overcome with wrath, he seized his divine bow, intent on slaying your son, and then—fitting a winged razor-headed shaft—he cut down King Duryodhana’s excellent bow.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior-ethic of protecting one’s dependents: Bhīma’s intolerance of harm to his charioteer becomes a catalyst for decisive action. It also illustrates how anger, when directed toward defending others, can intensify resolve—yet remains ethically charged because it risks excess in violence.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma sees his charioteer Viśoka struck by sharp arrows shot by Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (Duryodhana). Enraged, Bhīma takes up his divine bow and, using a razor-headed arrow, cuts down Duryodhana’s bow, escalating the duel.