Shloka 33
दुःशासनवधः (Duḥśāsana-vadha) — Bhīma’s vow-fulfillment in combat
पज्चालै: सहिता राजन् धार्तराष्ट्रान न्यवारयन् । राजन! तब प्रहारकुशल सत्रह सौ केकय योद्धा पांचालोंक साथ आकर आपके पुत्रोंको रोकने लगे ।। तस्मिन् सुतुमुले युद्धे वर्तमाने जनक्षये,जिस समय वह जनसंहारकारी भयंकर युद्ध चल रहा था, उस समय महाबली दुर्योधन और भीमसेन एक-दूसरेसे जूझने लगे
pañcālaiḥ sahitā rājan dhārtarāṣṭrān nyavārayan | tasmin sutumule yuddhe vartamāne janakṣaye dṛḍhāyudhau mahābalau duryodhana-vṛkodarau anyonyam abhijagmatuḥ ||
Sañjaya said: O King, accompanied by the Pāñcālas, they checked the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. While that exceedingly tumultuous battle—bringing great loss of life—was in progress, the mighty Duryodhana and Bhīmasena (Vṛkodara) closed upon one another to grapple in direct combat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral gravity of war: even as armies perish (janakṣaya), leaders are pulled into personal vendettas and vow-driven duels. It implicitly warns that when conflict escalates beyond restraint, dharma becomes harder to uphold and the cost to society multiplies.
Pāñcāla fighters, allied with the Pāṇḍava side, block the Kaurava forces. In the midst of the fierce, chaotic slaughter, Duryodhana and Bhīma (Vṛkodara) move toward each other for direct combat.