Shloka 26
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 109 — Karṇa–Bhīma Yuddha and Durmukha’s Fall (कर्णभीमयुद्धम्; दुर्मुखवधः)
राजन्! भरतनन्दन! तब दुर्मुख दुःखी मनसे उस अश्वहीन रथको त्यागकर निरमित्रके रथपर जा चढ़ा ।। सहदेवस्ततः क्रुद्धो निरमित्रं महाहवे । जघान पृतनामध्ये भललेन परवीरहा,इससे शत्रुवीरोंका संहार करनेवाले सहदेव कुपित हो उठे और उन्होंने उस महासमरमें सेनाके बीचोबीच एक भल्लसे निरमित्रको मार डाला
sañjaya uvāca | rājan bharatanandana tadā durmukhaḥ duḥkhī manasā tam aśvahīnaṃ rathaṃ tyaktvā niramitrasya ratham āruhya | sahadevas tataḥ kruddho niramitraṃ mahāhave jaghāna pṛtanāmadhye bhallena paravīrahā ||
Sañjaya said: O King, O joy of the Bharatas, then Durmukha, his mind distressed, abandoned that chariot bereft of horses and mounted the chariot of Niramitra. Thereupon Sahadeva, enraged in that great battle, struck down Niramitra in the very midst of the army with a broad-headed bhalla arrow—Sahadeva, the slayer of enemy heroes.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh moral landscape of war: tactical survival (abandoning a disabled chariot and taking refuge on another) is immediately met by counter-action, and responsibility in battle is measured by swift consequences rather than comfort. It also reflects the kṣatriya ethos where decisive action against armed opponents in the field is treated as legitimate within the rules of combat.
Durmukha, shaken and distressed, leaves his horseless chariot and climbs onto Niramitra’s chariot. Seeing this, Sahadeva becomes angry and, in the middle of the fighting, kills Niramitra with a broad-headed arrow.