Shloka 3
भीमसेनस्य वेगाभिपातः—विशोकसारथिसंवादश्च
Bhīma’s surge and dialogue with charioteer Viśoka
ततः खं पूरयामास शरैं्दिव्यास्त्रमन्त्रितै: | युधिष्ठिरं च समरे परिवार्य महास्त्रवित्
sañjaya uvāca | tataḥ khaṁ pūrayāmāsa śaraiḥ divyāstramantritaiḥ | yudhiṣṭhiraṁ ca samare parivārya mahāstravit |
Sañjaya dit : Alors il emplit le ciel de flèches investies par les mantras des armes divines. Encerclant Yudhiṣṭhira au plus fort de la mêlée, ce maître des grands traits chercha à le tenir enfermé, faisant du combat une démonstration de science acquise et de puissance écrasante—épisode qui rappelle qu’en guerre, prouesse et stratagème peuvent un instant l’emporter sur la retenue, même lorsque la cible est un roi renommé pour son dharma.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how battlefield excellence—especially the use of divinely empowered weapons—can create an overwhelming imbalance, testing the ethical ideal of restraint. It implicitly contrasts Yudhiṣṭhira’s dharmic identity with the harsh realities of war where power and technique often dominate the moment.
Sañjaya describes a warrior skilled in great astras surrounding Yudhiṣṭhira and filling the sky with mantra-charged arrows, effectively blocking and pressuring him in combat.