Shloka 14
भीमसेनस्य वेगाभिपातः—विशोकसारथिसंवादश्च
Bhīma’s surge and dialogue with charioteer Viśoka
सुतसोमस्तु नवभि: शतानीकश्न सप्तभि: । अन्ये च बहव: शूरा विव्यधुस्तं समन््तत:
Sutasomas tu navabhiḥ Śatānīkaś ca saptabhiḥ | anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā vivyadhus taṃ samantataḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Sutasoma le frappa de neuf flèches, et Śatānīka de sept. Bien d’autres vaillants le percèrent aussi de toutes parts.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the battlefield ethic that outcomes often depend on coordinated effort rather than solitary valor. It also reflects the harsh reality of kṣatriya-dharma in war: even renowned fighters become vulnerable when surrounded, and duty-driven combat can escalate into relentless collective violence.
Sañjaya reports that Sutasoma shoots nine arrows and Śatānīka seven at the opponent, while many other warriors also strike him from every direction, indicating that the target is being pressed and wounded by a surrounding attack.