Shloka 26
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
प्रतिलभ्य तत: संज्ञां भीमसेनो महाबल: । दुर्योधन त्रिभिर्विद्ध्वा पुनर्विव्याध पञचभि:,तत्पश्चात् होशमें आनेपर महाबली भीमसेनने दुर्योधनको पहले तीन बाणोंसे बींधकर फिर पाँच बाणोंसे घायल किया
pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ | duryodhanaṃ tribhir viddhvā punar vivyādha pañcabhiḥ ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Al recobrar el sentido, el poderosísimo Bhīmasena hirió a Duryodhana—lo atravesó primero con tres flechas y luego lo volvió a herir con otras cinco. En la guerra, la recuperación se pone a prueba al instante por un nuevo asalto, y la resistencia se vuelve medida del temple marcial.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield resilience and the uncompromising demands of kṣatriya conduct: even after being stunned or losing awareness, a warrior must recover composure and continue the fight; likewise, opponents press advantage without pause, revealing the harsh ethical landscape of war.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma regains consciousness and immediately attacks Duryodhana, striking him with three arrows and then again with five, intensifying the duel through successive volleys.