Shloka 24
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
स तोमरव्यग्रकरश्चारुमौलि: स्वलंकृतः । शरन्मध्यंदिनाकभिस्तेजसा व्यदहद् रिपून्
sa tomaravyagrakaraś cārumauḻiḥ svalankṛtaḥ | śaranmadhyandinākabhis tejasā vyadahad ripūn || sa ṣaṣṭyā sātyakiṁ viddhvā svarṇapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ | nanāda balavannādaṁ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Adornado con una hermosa corona y joyas, con la mano presta en la jabalina, Bhīmasena ardía como el sol del mediodía en otoño, abrasando las filas enemigas con su esplendor. Luego, al herir a Sātyaki con sesenta flechas—de plumas doradas y afiladas sobre piedra—rugió con fuerza y clamó: «¡En pie! ¡En pie!»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the kṣatriya-war ethic where radiance (tejas), fearlessness, and psychological challenge are integral to combat; moral pressure is applied through displays of power, testing an opponent’s steadiness under threat.
Bhīma, splendidly adorned and armed, advances with sun-like brilliance, overwhelms enemies, then wounds Sātyaki with sixty sharpened, golden-feathered arrows and challenges him loudly to stand and fight.