Shloka 25
रात्रौ युद्धप्रवृत्तिः — Night Battle Begins; Duryodhana’s Protective Orders for Droṇa
Droṇa-parva 139
निरस्यन्निव देहे भ्यस्तनयानामसूंस्तव । भीमसेनो महाराज पूर्ववैरमनुस्मरन्,नरेश्वर! पहलेके वैरका बारंबार स्मरण करके भीमसेनने आपके पुत्रोंके प्राणोंको उनके शरीरोंसे निकालते हुए-से उन बाणोंका प्रहार किया था
nirasyann iva dehebhyaḥ tanayānām asūṃs tava | bhīmaseno mahārāja pūrvavairam anusmaran nara-īśvara ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja agung, wahai penguasa manusia, Bhīmasena—sambil berulang kali mengingat permusuhan lama—menghantam dengan panah-panahnya seakan-akan mencabut napas hidup putra-putramu dari tubuh mereka.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of pūrvavaira—old enmity remembered and nursed—because it can transform battlefield action into revenge-driven cruelty, intensifying violence beyond disciplined kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma, recalling past hostility, shot arrows at the Kaurava princes with such force and intent that it seemed he was wrenching their very lives from their bodies.