Shloka 2
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
चरन्तं गदया वीरं दण्डहस्तमिवान्तकम् । योधयामास समरे कालिड्र: सह सेनया
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |
carantaṁ gadayā vīraṁ daṇḍahastam ivāntakam |
yodhayāmāsa samare kāliṅgaḥ saha senayā ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra dit : «Quand l’héroïque Bhīmasena parcourt le champ de bataille, la massue à la main, il semble être la Mort elle-même — Yama portant le bâton du châtiment. Comment le roi de Kaliṅga, avec ses troupes, l’affronta-t-il dans ce combat ?»
ध्ृतराष्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the awe-inspiring force of righteous martial power: Bhīma’s presence is likened to Yama, suggesting that in war the consequences of adharma and the inevitability of death become immediate. It also reflects the epic’s ethical tension—valor and duty (kṣatriya-dharma) operate within a field of grave moral stakes.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks Sañjaya to describe how the Kaliṅga king, supported by his army, fought against Bhīmasena, who is depicted as roaming the battlefield with a mace and appearing like Death personified.