Shloka 25
कर्ण-पाण्डव-संमर्दः — Karṇa and Arjuna’s Intensified Engagement
स तोत्रैरिव मातड़ो वार्यमाण: पतत्रिभि: | अभ्यधावदसम्भ्रान्त: सूतपुत्रं वकोदर:,जैसे मतवाला हाथी अंकुशसे रोका जाय, उसी प्रकार पंखयुक्त बाणोंद्वारा रोके जाते हुए भीमसेन तनिक भी घबराहटमें न पड़कर सूतपुत्र कर्णपर चढ़ आये
sa totrair iva mātaṅgo vāryamāṇaḥ patatribhiḥ | abhyadhāvad asambhrāntaḥ sūtaputraṃ vakodaraḥ ||
Laksana gajah yang sedang mabuk birahi ditahan dengan penggiring, demikian pula Bhima—Vakodara—meski dihalangi anak panah bersayap, sama sekali tidak goyah. Tanpa gentar ia menerjang lurus ke arah Karna, putra sais kereta.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadiness under pressure: even when physically checked and wounded by arrows, Bhīma remains asambhrānta—undisturbed—and acts with unwavering resolve. In the epic’s ethical frame, it exemplifies the warrior’s demanded composure and determination amid the tragic necessities of dharma-yuddha.
Sañjaya describes Bhīma charging at Karṇa. Karṇa’s feathered arrows attempt to restrain him, but Bhīma, compared to an elephant resisted by a goad, presses forward without faltering and closes in on Karṇa.