Shloka 35
शैनेयचरितम्
The Exploits of Śaineya/Sātyaki amid Encirclement
भीमसेन तु कौन्तेयं सोदर्या: पर्यवारयन् । विविंशतिकश्षित्रसेनो विकर्णश्ष् महारथ:,उस समय विविंशति, चित्रसेन तथा महारथी विकर्ण--इन तीनों भाइयोंने कुन्तीपुत्र भीमसेनको घेर लिया
bhīmasena tu kaunteyaṃ sodaryāḥ paryavārayan | viviṃśatir citrasenaś ca vikarnaś ca mahārathaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then Bhīmasena, the Kuntī-born, was surrounded by his own brothers—Viviṃśati, Citrasena, and Vikarna, the great chariot-warrior. In the press of battle, kinship was set aside as the Kauravas sought to check Bhīma’s overwhelming force, turning even bonds of blood into instruments of strategy and duty.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tragic inversion caused by war: even close kin act as opponents under their chosen loyalties and perceived duty. It underscores how kṣatriya-dharma and battlefield necessity can override personal bonds, turning family into tactical units.
During the fighting, three Kaurava brothers—Viviṃśati, Citrasena, and Vikarna—coordinate to surround Bhīma, attempting to restrain or defeat him by encirclement, indicating Bhīma’s threat level and the Kauravas’ tactical response.