Shloka 45
Duryodhana-patana-anuśocana
The Fall of Duryodhana and the Contest of Restraint
अबुद्धयद् भीमसेनस्तु राज्ञस्तस्य चिकीर्षितम् । अथास्य समभिद्रुत्य समुत्क्तुश्य च सिंहवत्,भीमसेन समझ गये कि राजा दुर्योधन क्या करना चाहता है। अतः पैंतरेसे छलने और ऊपर उछलनेकी इच्छावाले दुर्योधनके ऊपर आक्रमण करके भीमसेनने सिंहके समान गर्जना की और उसकी जाँघोंपर बड़े वेगसे गदा चलायी
abuddhayad bhīmasenas tu rājñas tasya cikīrṣitam | athāsya samabhidrutya samutkruśya ca siṁhavat bhīmaseno gadayā jaghāne jānunī (jāṅghayoḥ) mahāvegena ||
Bhīmasena understood what the king (Duryodhana) intended to do. Then, rushing straight at him and roaring like a lion, Bhīma struck him with great force on the thighs with his mace.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral strain between formal rules of combat and the perceived necessity of stopping an opponent whose intent is judged harmful. It frames Bhīma’s decisive strike as arising from clear perception of Duryodhana’s intention, raising questions about when (or whether) rule-breaking is justified in the pursuit of restoring dharma.
During the mace-duel, Bhīma realizes Duryodhana’s intended maneuver. He charges, roars like a lion, and delivers a powerful mace-blow to Duryodhana’s thighs, a pivotal moment that turns the duel toward its conclusion.