Shloka 37
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
न भीम समरे मेने मानुषं भरतर्षभ । ततो भीमो महाबारहुर्न्दित्वा विपुलं स्वनम्
sañjaya uvāca | na bhīmaṃ samare mene mānuṣaṃ bharatarṣabha | tato bhīmo mahābāhur naditvā vipulaṃ svanam |
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai yang termulia di antara keturunan Bharata, dalam pertempuran itu para prajurit tidak memandang Bhīma sebagai manusia biasa, melainkan seakan-akan sosok yang bersifat ilahi. Lalu Bhīma yang berlengan perkasa mengaum dahsyat; dengan pedang di tangan ia menerjang, melompat kuat, berpegangan pada gading-gading raja gajah, dan memanjat naik ke atas kepalanya.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of fearless valor and the psychological power of extraordinary courage: when a warrior’s strength and resolve exceed ordinary limits, observers perceive him as ‘more than human,’ underscoring how prowess and steadfastness can inspire awe and shift morale in war.
Sañjaya reports that the troops, astonished by Bhīma’s ferocity, no longer see him as merely human. Bhīma roars loudly, rushes forward with a sword, and—using the elephant’s tusks as support—leaps up and climbs onto the head of the elephant-king.