Shloka 62
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
तयोर्भुजविनिष्येषादुभयोबलिनोस्तदा । शब्द: समभवद् घोरो वेणुस्फोटसमो युधि,उस समय उस युद्धमें उन दोनों बलवानोंकी भुजाओंकी रगड़से बाँस फटनेका-सा भयानक शब्द होने लगा
tayor bhujaviniṣyeṣād ubhayo balinos tadā | śabdaḥ samabhavad ghoro veṇusphoṭasamo yudhi ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then, in the midst of that combat, as the two mighty warriors’ arms pressed and rubbed against each other in close grappling, a dreadful sound arose—like the cracking of split bamboo—signaling the fierce intensity of their strength and resolve on the battlefield.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse is primarily descriptive rather than didactic: it highlights how immense strength and determination manifest in war. Ethically, it underscores the gravity of battle—where power is not abstract but produces palpable, frightening consequences—inviting reflection on the cost and seriousness of martial conflict.
Two powerful fighters are engaged at very close quarters. As their arms grind and press against each other in the struggle, the friction produces a terrifying noise, compared to the sharp cracking sound of bamboo splitting, emphasizing the ferocity of the encounter.