Shloka 14
भीमसेनस्य वेगाभिपातः—विशोकसारथिसंवादश्च
Bhīma’s surge and dialogue with charioteer Viśoka
सुतसोमस्तु नवभि: शतानीकश्न सप्तभि: । अन्ये च बहव: शूरा विव्यधुस्तं समन््तत:,युधिष्ठिरने तिहत्तर, प्रतिविन्ध्यने सात, श्रुतकर्माने तीन, श्रुतकीर्तिने सात, सुतसोमने नौ और शतानीकने उसे सात बाण मारे तथा दूसरे बहुत-से शूरवीरोंने भी अश्वत्थामाको चारों ओरसे घायल कर दिया
Sutasomas tu navabhiḥ Śatānīkaś ca saptabhiḥ | anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā vivyadhus taṃ samantataḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Sutasoma struck him with nine arrows, and Śatānīka with seven. Many other valiant warriors too pierced him from all sides.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the battlefield ethic that outcomes often depend on coordinated effort rather than solitary valor. It also reflects the harsh reality of kṣatriya-dharma in war: even renowned fighters become vulnerable when surrounded, and duty-driven combat can escalate into relentless collective violence.
Sañjaya reports that Sutasoma shoots nine arrows and Śatānīka seven at the opponent, while many other warriors also strike him from every direction, indicating that the target is being pressed and wounded by a surrounding attack.