Shloka 393
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 33 — Kuru Cattle-Raid and Matsya Mobilization (भूमिंजय-प्रेरणा)
अथास्य सारथिं क्रुद्धो रथोपस्थादपातयत् । राजन! फिर तो शीघ्रता करनेवाले कुन्तीपुत्र भीमने सुशमाके पास पहुँचकर उत्तम बाणोंसे उसके घोड़ोंको मार डाला। साथ ही उसके पृष्ठरक्षकोंको भी मारकर कुपित हो उसके सारथिको भी रथसे नीचे गिरा दिया
athāsya sārathiṁ kruddho rathopasthād apātayat |
Vaiśampāyana said: Enraged, he struck down that warrior’s charioteer from the chariot-seat. O king, then Bhīma, Kuntī’s son—swift in action and fierce in resolve—closed upon Suśarmā, slew his horses with excellent arrows, cut down those guarding his rear, and in wrath hurled the charioteer to the ground. Thus does battle gather ruthless momentum, as tactical need and anger join to cripple an enemy’s movement and defense.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how, in war, disabling an enemy’s means of movement and protection (horses, guards, charioteer) becomes a decisive tactic; it also cautions that anger (krodha) can drive action, raising the ethical tension between necessary force and loss of restraint.
Bhīma rapidly reaches Suśarmā, shoots down his horses with fine arrows, kills the rear-guards, and—angered—knocks the charioteer down from the chariot-seat, effectively crippling Suśarmā’s chariot-fighting capacity.