Saubhadra under Concentrated Assault; Pārṣata’s Intervention and Escalation
कलिड्नां च समरे भीमस्य च महात्मन: । जगत: प्रक्षयकरं घोररूपं भयावहम्
kaliṅgānāṃ ca samare bhīmasya ca mahātmanaḥ | jagataḥ prakṣayakaraṃ ghorarūpaṃ bhayāvaham ||
Sañjaya berkata: Kemudian di medan laga pecahlah pertempuran dahsyat antara para kesatria Kalinga dan Bhīmasena yang berhati agung—mengerikan dipandang, menimbulkan gentar, seakan mampu mendatangkan kebinasaan bagi seluruh jagat.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the overwhelming, world-shaking nature of war: when martial rage peaks, it seems capable of consuming everything. Even within a dharma-framed conflict, the text reminds the listener of war’s terrifying cost and the ethical weight borne by those who unleash such force.
Sañjaya reports that a fierce battle erupts between Bhīma and the Kalinga fighters. The combat is described as extraordinarily dreadful and fear-inducing, emphasizing Bhīma’s formidable power and the intensity of the clash on the battlefield.