Shloka 51
देखो, जैसे सिंहसे पीड़ित हुए मृग भागते हैं, उसी प्रकार इस आधी रातके समय सूतपुत्रके द्वारा की हुई बाण-वर्षासे व्यथित हो ये पांचाल सैनिक भागे जा रहे हैं ।। एतस्यैवं प्रवृद्धस्य सूतपुत्रस्य संयुगे । निषेद्धा विद्यते नान्यस्त्वामृते भीमविक्रम,भयंकर पराक्रमी वीर! इस युद्धस्थलमें तुम्हारे सिवा दूसरा कोई ऐसा योद्धा नहीं है, जो इस प्रकार आगे बढ़नेवाले सूतपुत्र कर्णको रोक सके
śrīvāyudeva uvāca |
paśyata, yathā siṃhena pīḍitā mṛgā dhāvanti, tathārdharātrasamaye sūtaputreṇa kṛtāyā bāṇavarṣāyā vyathitā ime pāñcālāḥ sainikā dhāvanti ||
etasyaivaṃ pravṛddhasya sūtaputrasya saṃyuge |
niṣeddhā vidyate nānyas tvām ṛte bhīmavikrama, bhayaṅkara-parākrama vīra |
asmīn yuddhasthale tvadanyo nāsti yo ’syaivaṃ vardhamānasya sūtaputrasya karṇasya gatiṃ nivārayitum arhati ||
Vāyu said: “Look—just as deer, harried by a lion, flee in panic, so too at this midnight hour the Pāñcāla soldiers, tormented by the arrow-storm unleashed by Karṇa, the son of a charioteer, are running for their lives. In this battle, as Karṇa’s onrush swells, there is no one who can check him—except you, O Bhīma of mighty prowess, a hero of dreadful valor. On this field of war, none but you is fit to halt Karṇa as he advances in this manner.”
श्रीवायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights battlefield dharma: when many are overwhelmed by fear and superior force, responsibility concentrates upon the one capable leader. Valor is framed as ethical duty—Bhīma is urged to act not for pride, but to protect allies and restore balance against unchecked violence.
At midnight, Karṇa’s intense barrage of arrows causes the Pāñcāla troops to break ranks and flee like deer chased by a lion. Vāyu addresses Bhīma, declaring that only Bhīma has the strength and courage to stop Karṇa’s advancing momentum on the battlefield.