Shloka 27
Adhyāya 110: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament on Fate; Saṃjaya’s Reproof and the Princes’ Assault on Bhīma (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय ११०)
स वध्यमानो भीमेन निमेषाद् रथमास्थित: । जगाम धरणीं चैव क्षुद्र: खं सहसागमत्,भीमसेनके बाणोंकी मार खाकर राक्षस अलम्बुष पलक मारते-मारते अपने रथपर आ बैठा। वह क्षुद्र निशाचर कभी तो धरतीपर आ जाता और कभी सहसा आकाशमें पहुँच जाता था
sa vadhyamāno bhīmena nimeṣād ratham āsthitaḥ | jagāma dharaṇīṃ caiva kṣudraḥ khaṃ sahasāgamat ||
Dihantam oleh serangan Bhima, raksasa Alambuṣa—pengembara malam yang hina—dalam sekejap kembali naik ke keretanya. Dengan daya mayanya ia kadang merendah ke bumi, kadang tiba-tiba melesat ke langit—siasat licik untuk mengelak di tengah desakan perang yang garang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts straightforward martial valor with evasive, deceptive conduct: even under pressure, some fighters resort to sudden, illusory maneuvers (earth-to-sky) that are characterized as kṣudra—morally base—highlighting how adharma can manifest in wartime tactics.
After being struck by Bhīma’s arrows, the rākṣasa Alambuṣa quickly remounts his chariot and begins darting unpredictably—now on the ground, now suddenly in the sky—attempting to evade Bhīma and continue fighting through supernatural agility.