Shloka 336
अध्याय ८८ — घटोत्कच-दुर्योधनयुद्धवर्णनम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Duryodhana Engagement
जघान वाहान् समरे समन्तात् पारावतान् सिन्धुराजस्य संख्ये । वेगशाली भीमसेन उसके बाणोंकी कोई परवा न करते हुए मन-ही-मन क्रोधसे जल उठे। तत्पश्चात् उन्होंने समरभूमिमें सिन्धुराजके कबूतरके समान रंगवाले घोड़ोंको मार डाला
sañjaya uvāca |
jaghāna vāhān samare samantāt pārāvatān sindhurājasya saṅkhye |
Sañjaya dit : Au plus fort de la bataille, Bhîmasena, sans se soucier des flèches ennemies et brûlant intérieurement de colère, abattit de toutes parts les chevaux du roi du Sindhu—gris comme des colombes—et brisa ainsi sa mobilité au combat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a wartime ethic of strategic necessity within kshatriya-dharma: in battle, disabling an enemy’s mobility (by killing mounts) can be a decisive act, even though it is violent and morally weighty. It also shows how unchecked anger fuels escalation in conflict.
Sanjaya reports that Bhima, enraged and unconcerned with incoming arrows, kills the Sindhu king’s pigeon-grey horses across the battlefield, effectively undermining the king’s ability to maneuver or fight effectively.