Shloka 1
द्रौणि-पार्षतयोर्युद्धम् | The Duel of Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi) and Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Pārṣata
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका ३ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ४३ ६ “लोक हैं) त्रयस्त्रिशर्दाधिकशततमोब ध्याय: भीमसेन और कर्णका युद्ध, कर्णके सारथिसहित रथका विनाश तथा धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र दुर्जयका वध धृतराष्ट्र रवाच अत्यद्भुतमहं मनन््ये भीमसेनस्य विक्रमम् । यत् कर्ण योधयामास समरे लघुविक्रमम्,धृतराष्ट्र बोले--संजय! मैं भीमसेनके पराक्रमको अत्यन्त अद्भुत मानता हूँ कि उन्होंने समरांगणमें शीघ्रतापूर्वक पराक्रम दिखानेवाले कर्णके साथ भी युद्ध किया
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | atyadbhutam ahaṁ manye bhīmasenasya vikramam | yat karṇaṁ yodhayām āsa samare laghuvikramam ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Sañjaya, aku memandang kegagahan Bhīmasena sungguh menakjubkan—bahwa di medan laga ia pun berani bertempur melawan Karṇa, yang termasyhur karena keberanian yang cepat dan menentukan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid a destructive war, the epic highlights the kṣatriya ideal of meeting formidable opponents without shrinking back. Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s amazement also reveals a moral tension: he recognizes greatness in an enemy of his sons, showing how truth about valor can pierce partisan attachment, even if it does not yet transform his judgment.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra, hearing the war report from Sañjaya, remarks that Bhīma’s prowess is extraordinary because Bhīma has taken on Karṇa in direct combat—Karṇa being renowned for rapid, forceful feats on the battlefield. This sets the tone for the ensuing account of the Bhīma–Karṇa encounter and its consequences.