Shloka 26
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
ततो भीमो महावेगां त्यक्त्वा गुर्वी महागदाम्
tato bhīmo mahāvegāṃ tyaktvā gurvīṃ mahāgadām
Sañjaya berkata: “Kemudian Bhīma, setelah meninggalkan gada besarnya yang berat dan menghantam dengan dahsyat, mengubah sikapnya di tengah pertempuran dan meraih senjata lain.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined action in war: even a mighty warrior must adapt means to circumstance. Strength is not merely in wielding a weapon, but in choosing and relinquishing tools appropriately while remaining within the demands of kṣatriya-dharma.
Sañjaya narrates that Bhīma sets aside his heavy, powerful mace. This indicates a shift in immediate combat method—either to take up another weapon, engage differently, or respond to a changing tactical moment on the battlefield.