Shloka 24
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
सुषेणो भीमसेनस्य च्छित्त्वा भल्लेन कार्मुकम् । नाराचै: सप्तभिर्विद्ध्या हृदि भीम॑ ननाद ह,सुषेणने एक भल्लसे भीमसेनके धनुषको काटकर उनकी छातीमें सात नाराचोंका प्रहार करके भयंकर गर्जना की
suṣeṇo bhīmasenasya chittvā bhallena kārmukam | nārācaiḥ saptabhir viddhvā hṛdi bhīmaṁ nanāda ha ||
Sañjaya said: Suṣeṇa severed Bhīmasena’s bow with a broad-headed arrow, then struck Bhīma in the chest with seven nārāca shafts. Having wounded him thus, he let out a fearsome roar—battlefield bravado meant to shake the enemy’s resolve amid the stern code of kṣatriya combat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya code in war: skill, decisiveness, and intimidation are deployed to gain advantage. Ethically, it reflects how battlefield duty (dharma as martial obligation) can involve calculated violence and psychological pressure, even when directed against formidable opponents.
Sañjaya narrates that Suṣeṇa disables Bhīma by cutting his bow with a bhalla arrow, then wounds him with seven nārāca arrows to the chest/heart-region, and finally roars loudly in triumph and challenge.