Shloka 26
भीष्मस्य जलप्रार्थना — अर्जुनस्य पर्जन्यास्त्रप्रयोगः — दुर्योधनं प्रति सन्ध्युपदेशः
Bhīṣma’s request for water; Arjuna’s Parjanya-astra; counsel to Duryodhana on reconciliation
विशोक प्रेक्ष्य निर्भिन्नं भीमसेन: प्रतापवान् । मद्रराजं त्रिभिर्बाणैर्बाह्लोरुगसि चार्पयत्
viśokaṃ prekṣya nirbhinnaṃ bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān | madrarājaṃ tribhir bāṇair bāhlor ugasi cārpayat ||
Sañjaya dit : Voyant son cocher Viśoka grièvement blessé, le puissant Bhīmasena, saisi d’une farouche détermination guerrière, frappa le roi de Madra, Śalya, de trois flèches, les plantant dans ses bras et dans sa poitrine — riposte ardente, destinée à protéger les siens et à répondre sur-le-champ à l’offense au cœur du champ de bataille.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-duty in war: when one’s ally is harmed, a warrior is expected to respond decisively to protect and uphold the fighting spirit of his side. It also shows how compassion for one’s own (seeing the charioteer wounded) can immediately translate into forceful action in a dharmic battlefield context.
Sañjaya narrates that Bhīma sees his charioteer Viśoka badly wounded. Enraged and resolute, Bhīma shoots three arrows at Śalya, the king of Madra, striking him in the arms and chest.