Shloka 17
भीष्मवधाय प्रयाणम् — The Advance toward Bhīṣma and Counter-Engagements
तान् नामृष्यत कौन्तेयो जीवमाना गता इति । अन्वीय च पुन: सर्वास्तव पुत्रानपीडयत्
tān nāmṛṣyata kaunteyo jīvamānā gatā iti | anvīya ca punaḥ sarvāstava putrān apīḍayat |
Bhimasena, putra Kunti, tak sanggup menahan kenyataan bahwa mereka lolos dalam keadaan hidup. Ia mengejar mereka kembali dan menekan semua putra-putramu, melukai serta mengusik mereka dengan anak panahnya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the ethics of war, uncontrolled anger can intensify violence, yet tactical necessity also drives pursuit: allowing defeated enemies to withdraw safely may enable them to regroup and cause further harm. The verse highlights the tension between restraint and battlefield prudence.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma could not accept that the opposing warriors had escaped alive. He chased them again and afflicted Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons with renewed arrow-attacks.