Shloka 23
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
तमुद्यतगद दृष्टवा कैलासमिव श्ज्धिणम् | कौरवो द्रोणपुत्रश्न सहितावभ्यधावताम्
tam udyata-gadaṁ dṛṣṭvā kailāsam iva śṛṅgiṇam | kauravo droṇa-putraś ca sahitāv abhyadhāvatām ||
Sañjaya dijo: Al ver a Bhīmasena con la maza alzada—erguido como el cornudo monte Kailāsa—Duryodhana, de los Kauravas, y Aśvatthāman, hijo de Droṇa, se lanzaron juntos a atacarlo. La escena subraya el sombrío impulso de la guerra: valor y furia avanzan al unísono, mientras el peso ético de la violencia oprime a todos los que eligen golpear.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial prowess and collective resolve drive warriors forward in battle, while implicitly reminding the listener that such force, though aligned with kṣatriya duty, carries grave ethical consequences in a dharma-conflicted war.
Bhīma stands with his mace raised high, compared to Mount Kailāsa; seeing this formidable stance, Duryodhana and Aśvatthāman jointly charge toward him to engage him in combat.