Shloka 31
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — दुर्योधनस्य ह्रदप्रवेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Duryodhana’s Entry into the Lake
ते हन्यमाना भीमेन नाराचैस्तैलपायितै: । सहदेवं रणे क्रुद्धाश्छादयन् शरवृष्टिभि:
te hanyamānā bhīmena nārācais tailapāyitaiḥ | sahadevaṃ raṇe kruddhāś chādayan śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Though being struck down by Bhīma with oil-tempered nārāca arrows, they—angered in the midst of battle—covered Sahadeva with a shower of shafts. The scene underscores how wrath in war can drive fighters to retaliate blindly, shifting their aim from righteous contest to vengeful overwhelm.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger (krodha) in warfare can eclipse discernment: even while suffering under Bhīma’s assault, the fighters lash out by overwhelming Sahadeva, illustrating the ethical danger of retaliation driven by rage rather than disciplined kṣatriya conduct.
On the battlefield, warriors who are being struck by Bhīma’s hardened nārāca arrows become enraged and respond by directing a dense barrage of arrows at Sahadeva, effectively blanketing him under a rain of shafts.