Shloka 31
शल्यस्य पाण्डवसेनापीडनम् — Śalya’s Assault on the Pāṇḍava Host
with Omens and Bhīma’s Counter
सुषेणस्तु ततः क्रुद्ध: पाण्डवस्य महद् धनु:
suṣeṇas tu tataḥ kruddhaḥ pāṇḍavasya mahad dhanuḥ
Sañjaya said: Then Suṣeṇa, inflamed with anger, turned his attention to the Pāṇḍava’s mighty bow—an emblem of the warrior’s power and resolve amid the escalating violence of the battlefield.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger (krodha) can drive a warrior’s focus toward destroying the opponent’s sources of strength. In the epic’s ethical frame, such rage is a powerful force that can intensify conflict and cloud discernment, even while operating within the battlefield’s kṣatriya code.
Sañjaya reports that Suṣeṇa becomes enraged and fixes upon the Pāṇḍava’s great bow—suggesting an intent to challenge, neutralize, or break the opponent’s martial advantage as the battle action continues.