Shloka 78
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९
Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces
भीमसेनस्य निर्विद्धा बाणै: संनतपर्वभि:
bhīmasenasya nirviddhā bāṇaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
Sañjaya said: Bhīmasena was pierced by arrows whose joints were well-bent and firmly set—an image of the battlefield’s relentless precision, where even the mightiest warrior must endure pain and remain steadfast in duty amid the violence of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The line underscores kṣatriya endurance: even a great warrior like Bhīma must bear wounds without abandoning resolve. It highlights the ethical tension of war—skill and force cause real suffering, yet the warrior’s duty demands steadiness under attack.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīmasena has been struck and pierced by well-made, forceful arrows. The verse functions as a vivid battlefield detail, emphasizing the intensity of the combat and the pressure placed upon Bhīma.