Shloka 34
स राजपुत्रो&न्यदवाप्य कार्मुकं वृकोदरं द्वादशभि: पराभिनत् | स्वयं नियच्छंस्तुरगानजिद्दागै: शरैश्व भीम॑ पुनरप्यवीवृषत्,तब राजकुमार दुःशासनने भी दूसरा धनुष लेकर भीमसेनको बारह बाणोंसे बींध डाला और स्वयं ही घोड़ोंको काबूमें रखते हुए उसने पुनः उनके ऊपर सीधे जानेवाले बाणोंकी झड़ी लगा दी
sa rājaputro ’nyad avāpya kārmukaṁ vṛkodaraṁ dvādaśabhiḥ parābhinat | svayaṁ niyacchaṁs turagān ajiddāgaiḥ śaraiś ca bhīmaṁ punar apy avīvṛṣat ||
Sañjaya said: The prince (Duḥśāsana), taking up another bow, pierced Vṛkodara (Bhīma) with twelve arrows. Then, while himself restraining and guiding the horses, he once again showered Bhīma with straight-flying, unerring shafts—an image of relentless martial resolve in the midst of the war’s escalating violence.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim momentum of war: skill, determination, and tactical control (even of the chariot horses) can intensify violence. Ethically, it underscores how martial excellence, when driven by hostility, becomes relentless harm—inviting reflection on the costs of kṣatriya duty when dharma is clouded by enmity.
During the battle, Duḥśāsana takes up another bow and strikes Bhīma with twelve arrows. While personally controlling the horses, he continues by raining a further volley of straight-flying arrows upon Bhīma.