Shloka 14
उस भयंकर मुहूर्तमें गाण्डीव धनुषकी प्रत्यंचाको मण्डलाकार करके जब किरीटधारी अर्जुन शत्रुसेनापर टूट पड़े तथा बल और प्रतापमें बढ़ने लगे, उस समय धनुषकी टंकारकी प्रतिध्वनि आकाशगमें गूँज उठी, जिससे डरे हुए पक्षी पर्वतोंकी कन्दराओंमें छिप गये ।। त॑ भीमसेनो5नुययौ रथेन पृष्टे रक्षन् पाण्डवमेकवीर: । तौ राजपुत्रौ त्वरितौ रथाभ्यां कर्णाय यातावरिभिर्विषक्तौ,प्रमुख वीर भीमसेन पीछेसे पाण्डुनन्दन अर्जुनकी रक्षा करते हुए रथके द्वारा उनका अनुसरण करने लगे। वे दोनों पाण्डवराजकुमार बड़ी उतावलीके साथ शत्रुओंसे जूझते हुए कर्णकी ओर बढ़ने लगे
sañjaya uvāca | tasmin bhayaṅkare muhūrte gāṇḍīva-dhanuṣaḥ pratyāñcāṃ maṇḍalākāraṃ kṛtvā yadā kirīṭadhārī arjunaḥ śatru-senāyāṃ nipapāta ca bala-pratāpeṇa vardhamānaḥ, tadā dhanuṣaḥ ṭaṅkāra-pratidhvaniḥ ākāśe nināda; tena bhītāḥ pakṣiṇaḥ parvata-kandarāsu nilīnāḥ || tataḥ bhīmaseno 'nuyayau rathena pṛṣṭhe rakṣan pāṇḍavam ekavīraḥ | tau rājaputrau tvaritau rathābhyāṃ karṇāya yātau aribhir viṣaktau ||
Sanjaya said: In that dreadful moment, when Arjuna, the diadem-wearing lord of the Gāṇḍīva, drew his bowstring into a full circle and hurled himself upon the enemy host—his might and splendor rising—an echoing roar of the bow’s twang resounded through the sky. Terrified birds hid themselves in the mountain caves. Then Bhīmasena followed close behind in his chariot, guarding the lone hero among the Pāṇḍavas. The two royal sons, swift in their cars, pressed on toward Karṇa, locked in combat with their foes—an image of comradeship and protective duty amid the fury of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a violent and chaotic battlefield, dharma expresses itself as steadfast duty: Arjuna’s resolute advance embodies the warrior’s obligation to confront adharma, while Bhima’s following ‘from behind’ highlights protective responsibility and loyal support for a comrade—strength guided by purpose rather than mere aggression.
Arjuna draws the Gāṇḍīva’s string to full power and charges into the enemy ranks; the bow’s thunderous twang echoes in the sky, frightening birds into mountain caves. Bhima then follows in his chariot, guarding Arjuna, and together the two Pāṇḍava princes hurry forward, fighting through enemies as they advance toward Karṇa.