Shloka 13
अभिमन्योर् दारुणः संमर्दः
Abhimanyu’s fierce melee amid chariot formations
सोडन्यदादाय बलवान् सज्यं कृत्वा च कार्मुकम् । भीमस्यापातयत् केतु धनुरश्चांश्ष मारिष,आर्य! तब उस बलवान वीरने दूसरा धनुष ले उसपर प्रत्यंचा चढ़ाकर भीमके धनुष, ध्वज और घोड़ोंको धराशायी कर दिया
so 'nyad ādāya balavān sajyaṃ kṛtvā ca kārmukam | bhīmasyāpātayat ketuṃ dhanur aśvāṃś ca māriṣa ||
Sañjaya said: Taking up another bow, that mighty warrior strung it and, with swift force, brought down Bhīma’s banner, shattered his bow, and felled his horses.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic where victory is pursued by disabling an opponent’s means of fighting—bow, banner, and horses—rather than by mere display. It reflects the pragmatic side of kṣatriya-dharma: skill, readiness, and decisive action within the accepted arena of war.
A powerful warrior (unnamed in this verse) takes another bow, strings it, and strikes Bhīma’s chariot setup—bringing down the banner, damaging the bow, and felling the horses—thereby weakening Bhīma’s combat capability.