Shloka 17
महोदरस्तु समरे भीम॑ विव्याध पत्रिभि: | नवभिर्वज्ञसंकाशैर्नमुचिं वृत्रहा यथा,जैसे वृत्रविनाशक इन्द्रने नमुचि नामक दैत्यपर प्रहार किया था, उसी प्रकार महोदरने समरभूमिमें अपने वज़सरीखे नौ बाणोंसे भीमसेनको घायल कर दिया
sañjaya uvāca | mahodarastu samare bhīmaṁ vivyādha patribhiḥ | navabhir vajrasaṅkāśair namuciṁ vṛtrahā yathā ||
Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, Mahodara pierced Bhīma with nine arrows, gleaming like Indra’s thunderbolt—just as the slayer of Vṛtra once struck the demon Namuci.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the epic’s martial ethic: in war, a kṣatriya’s duty is tested through courage, endurance, and skill. By invoking Indra’s thunderbolt-like strike, it frames battlefield action as a severe trial of strength and resolve rather than mere spectacle.
Sañjaya reports that Mahodara, during the battle, shoots Bhīma with nine powerful arrows. The attack is compared to Indra (the slayer of Vṛtra) striking the demon Namuci, emphasizing the intensity and effectiveness of Mahodara’s assault.