Shloka 196
भीमसेनस्य वेगाभिपातः—विशोकसारथिसंवादश्च
Bhīma’s surge and dialogue with charioteer Viśoka
छादयामास तत् सैन्यं समन्ताद् भरतर्षभ । मान्यवर भरतभूषण महाराज! तत्पश्चात् द्रोणकुमारने अपने बाणोंकी वर्षसि युधिष्ठिरकी उस सेनाको सब ओरसे ढक दिया
chādayāmāsa tat sainyaṃ samantād bharatarṣabha |
Sañjaya said: O bull among the Bharatas, then the son of Droṇa showered arrows and, from every side, covered that army—an image of the battle’s relentless momentum, where martial prowess seeks to overwhelm the opposing force and test the steadiness of kings and warriors amid the strain of dharma in war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of kṣatriya-dharma: in war, skill and force are used to overpower the enemy, yet the narrative invites reflection on restraint, responsibility, and the human cost when victory is pursued through overwhelming violence.
Sañjaya reports that the son of Droṇa unleashes a dense barrage of arrows, surrounding and effectively ‘covering’ the opposing army from every direction, intensifying the pressure on the battlefield.