Shloka 33
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
निकृत्य तु रणे भीमस्तोमरान् वै चतुर्दश
nikṛtya tu raṇe bhīmas tomarān vai caturdaśa
Sañjaya dit : Au plus fort du combat, Bhīma, après avoir abattu l’ennemi, réduisit en pièces quatorze lances — image de son élan farouche et de la violence inexorable de la guerre qui brise les armes.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the grim reality of kṣatriya warfare: valor is shown through decisive action and endurance amid lethal exchanges. It also hints at the ethical tension of the epic—heroic prowess is celebrated, yet it unfolds within a tragic, escalating violence.
Sañjaya reports a battlefield moment where Bhīma, in combat, cuts down the opponent(s) and breaks or neutralizes fourteen spears (tomaras), emphasizing his strength and the intensity of the engagement.