Shloka 736
अर्जुनस्य शीघ्रप्रयाणं भीम-शकुनियुद्धं च
Arjuna’s Rapid Advance and the Bhīma–Śakuni Encounter
ते क्षता: समदृश्यन्त भीतभीता गतासव: । सहस्रों रथी रथसे नीचे गिरा दिये गये थे। उनके अस्त्र-शस्त्र भी गिर चुके थे। वे सब- के-सब क्षत-विक्षत हो भीमसेनके भयसे भीत एवं प्राणहीन दिखायी दे रहे थे
te kṣatāḥ samadṛśyanta bhītabhītā gatāsavaḥ | sahasroṃ rathī rathase nīce girā diye gaye the | unke astra-śastra bhī gira cuke the | ve sab-ke-sab kṣata-vikṣata ho bhīmasenake bhayase bhīta evaṃ prāṇahīna dikhāyī de rahe the |
Sañjaya said: They appeared grievously wounded—terrified, as though bereft of life. Thousands of chariot-warriors had been hurled from their cars onto the ground; their weapons too had fallen away. All of them, mangled and bleeding, looked lifeless, overcome by fear of Bhīmasena.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of life and the collapse of martial pride under fear: in war, even trained warriors can become helpless when courage breaks, reminding readers of the grave ethical weight of violence and the impermanence of worldly power.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield aftermath where thousands of chariot-fighters have been struck down from their chariots, their weapons scattered, and they lie wounded or lifeless—overwhelmed specifically by the terror inspired by Bhīmasena.