Shloka 34
Adhyāya 108 — Nimitta-darśana and Drona’s counsel amid Arjuna’s advance (निमित्तदर्शनं द्रोणोपदेशश्च)
मद्रराजरथं प्राप्तं मृत्योरास्यगतं यथा । अभ्यपद्यत संग्रामे युधिष्ठिरममित्रजित्,तब शत्रुविजयी महाबाहु भीमसेन समरभूमिमें राजा युधिष्छिरको मृत्युके मुखमें पड़े हुएके समान मद्रराजके रथके समीप पहुँचा हुआ देखकर युद्धके लिये वहाँ आ पहुँचे
madra-rāja-rathaṁ prāptaṁ mṛtyor āsyagataṁ yathā | abhyapadyata saṅgrāme yudhiṣṭhiram amitrajit ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Al ver al rey Yudhiṣṭhira—que se había acercado al alcance del carro del rey de Madra—como quien ha entrado en la misma boca de la Muerte, Bhīmasena, vencedor de enemigos, se precipitó en el campo de batalla para trabar combate.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in crisis: when a righteous leader is exposed to grave danger, a warrior’s duty includes swift protective action. It also frames battlefield risk in ethical terms—Yudhiṣṭhira’s peril is not merely tactical but a threat to the moral center of the Pāṇḍava cause.
Yudhiṣṭhira has approached the Madra king Śalya’s chariot, a highly dangerous position likened to entering Death’s mouth. Seeing this, Bhīma—described as a conqueror of foes—rushes forward in the battle to confront the threat and defend his brother.