Shloka 5
अध्याय १५९ — रात्रौ श्रमविरामः
Night Exhaustion and Brief Pause in Battle
त॑ दृष्टवा समुपायान्तं रुक्मपुड्खे: शिलाशितै: । दशभ्रि: सात्वतस्यार्थे भीमो विव्याध सायकै:,सोमदत्तको आते देख भीमसेनने सात्यकिकी सहायताके लिये शिलापर तेज किये हुए सुवर्णमय पंखवाले दस बाणोंद्वारा उन्हें घायल कर दिया
taṁ dṛṣṭvā samupāyāntaṁ rukmapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ | daśabhiḥ sātvatasya arthe bhīmo vivyādha sāyakaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “Seeing him advancing, Bhīma, for the sake of Sātvata (Sātyaki), struck him with ten arrows—golden-feathered and stone-whetted—thereby checking his assault.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the battlefield setting, the verse highlights protective duty: Bhīma’s violence is instrumental and restrained—used to defend an ally (Sātyaki) and to prevent an advancing threat, aligning with the kṣatriya obligation to safeguard one’s side.
An opponent is seen advancing; Bhīma intervenes on Sātyaki’s behalf and wounds the attacker with ten well-prepared arrows (golden-fletched, stone-whetted), halting or weakening the advance.