Shloka 64
भीष्म-युधिष्ठिर-संमर्दः
Bhīṣma’s Pressure on Yudhiṣṭhira; Śikhaṇḍī’s Approach; Evening Withdrawal
(नाशयामासतुर्वीरौ धृष्टद्युम्नवृकोदरौ । कौरवाणामनीकानि शरै: संनतपर्वभि: ।।) इसी प्रकार धृष्टद्यमम और भीमसेन--इन दोनों वीरोंने झुकी हुई गाँठवाले बाणोंद्वारा कौरवसेनाओंका विनाश कर डाला। धर्मराजो5पि सम्प्रेक्ष्य धृष्टद्युम्नवृकोदरौ । मूर्थ्नि चैतावुपाप्राय प्रहृष्टः शिबिरं ययौ,धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने धृष्टद्युम्म और भीमसेन दोनोंसे मिलकर उनका मस्तक सूँघा और बड़े हर्षके साथ अपने शिविरको प्रस्थान किया
nāśayāmāsatur vīrau dhṛṣṭadyumnavṛkodarau | kauravāṇām anīkāni śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: In the same way, the two heroes Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Vṛkodara (Bhīma) destroyed the Kauravas’ battle-formations with arrows whose joints were bent downward. And Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, seeing Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Vṛkodara, went up to them, smelled the crown of each one’s head as a sign of affection and praise, and then, greatly pleased, departed for his camp.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the grave reality of dharma in war: heroic prowess and tactical effectiveness can decisively turn the tide, yet such victory is inseparable from destruction, reminding readers that righteous leadership must carry responsibility for the human cost of battle.
Sañjaya reports that Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Bhīma together shatter the Kaurava battle-divisions, cutting through their formations with volleys of arrows described as having bent joints, signaling a fierce Pāṇḍava advance in the ongoing combat.