Shloka 38
अध्याय ८० — मध्यंदिन-रणवृत्तान्तः
Yudhiṣṭhira–Śrutāyu encounter; Cekitāna–Gautama clash; Abhimanyu pressure; Arjuna’s redeployment
अथोपगच्छच्छरविक्षताड़ूं पदातिनं क्रोधविषं वमन्तम् । आश्चवासयन् पार्षतो भीमसेनं गदाहस्तं कालमिवान्तकाले
athopagacchaccharavikṣatāḍhyaṃ padātinaṃ krodhaviṣaṃ vamantam | āśvāsayan pārṣato bhīmasenaṃ gadāhastaṃ kālam ivāntakāle ||
Sañjaya said: Then Pārṣata (Dhṛṣṭadyumna) went up to Bhīmasena—the foot-soldier among heroes—whose body was thickly wounded by arrows, who seemed to spew the poison of wrath. He sought to hearten him, as Bhīma stood with mace in hand, resembling Time itself at the hour of destruction.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts righteous martial resolve with the corrosive excess of anger: even a mighty warrior who appears like Death must be steadied by counsel and reassurance, suggesting that dharma in war includes inner governance and support among allies, not merely ferocity.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna (called Pārṣata) approaches Bhīma, who is badly pierced by arrows and blazing with wrath, holding his mace. Dhṛṣṭadyumna attempts to encourage and calm him as Bhīma looks like personified Time at the moment of destruction.