Shloka 853
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
महौषधिसमायुक्त हनूमानिव पर्वतम् | शत्रुओंकी नगरीपर विजय पानेवाले कुन्तीकुमार भीमसेन यह चाहते थे कि कर्णके बाणोंसे बचनेके लिये कोई व्यवधान (आड़) मिल जाय; इसीलिये वे अर्जुनके बाणोंसे मारे गये एक हाथीकी लाशको उठाकर चुपचाप खड़े हो गये। उस समय वे संजीवन नामक महान् औषधिसे युक्त पर्वत उठाये हुए हनुमानूजीके समान जान पड़ते थे
sañjaya uvāca | mahauṣadhi-samāyuktaṃ hanūmān iva parvatam | śatrūṇāṃ nagarī-par vijayaṃ pāna-vale kuntī-kumāra bhīmasena yaha cāhate the ki karṇa-ke bāṇoṃ-se bacane ke liye koī vyavadhāna (āḍa) mil jāya; isīliye ve arjuna-ke bāṇoṃ-se māre gaye eka hāthī kī lāśa ko uṭhākar cupacāp khaṛe ho gaye | usa samaya ve sañjīvana nāmaka mahān auṣadhi-se yukta parvata uṭhāye hue hanumān-jī ke samāna jān paṛte the |
Sanjaya said: Bhimasena, the son of Kunti—eager to win victory over the enemies’ stronghold—sought some cover to escape Karna’s arrows. Therefore, lifting the carcass of an elephant slain by Arjuna’s shafts, he stood silently, using it as a shield. At that moment he appeared like Hanuman bearing a mountain laden with the great life-restoring herb Sanjivani—mighty in strength, yet acting with tactical restraint amid the harsh ethics of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a dharma-framed war, survival and duty may require tactical restraint rather than reckless display of strength. The verse highlights that power is ethically meaningful when guided by purpose—here, Bhima uses ingenuity and self-control to continue his duty, not mere bravado.
Bhima, under threat from Karna’s arrows, seeks cover. He lifts an elephant’s carcass (killed by Arjuna’s arrows) and stands quietly behind it as a shield. Sanjaya compares Bhima’s appearance to Hanuman carrying a mountain bearing the Sanjivani herb.