Shloka 136
अध्याय १५९ — रात्रौ श्रमविरामः
Night Exhaustion and Brief Pause in Battle
निचखान महाबाहु: पुरंदर इवाशनिम् | तब महाबाहु प्रतीपपुत्र बाह्नीकने अत्यन्त कुपित हो भीमसेनकी छातीमें अपनी शक्ति धँसा दी, मानो देवराज इन्द्रने किसी पर्वतपर वज्र मारा हो
nicakhāna mahābāhuḥ purandara ivāśanim | tadā mahābāhuḥ pratīpaputraḥ bāhlīkaḥ atyantaṁ kupito bhīmasenasya chātiṁ prati svāṁ śaktiṁ dhaṁsāpayām āsa, yathā devarāja indraḥ parvate vajraṁ hanyāt ||
Sañjaya berkata: Laksana Purandara (Indra) menancapkan vajra, sang kesatria berlengan perkasa menancapkannya. Maka Bāhlīka, putra Pratīpa, yang menyala oleh amarah dahsyat, menghunjamkan tombak-saktinya ke dada Bhīmasena—seakan Indra, raja para dewa, memukul sebuah gunung dengan halilintar.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how unchecked wrath (krodha) intensifies destructive action even within the framework of kṣatriya warfare. The epic repeatedly suggests that while battle may be a duty, inner discipline and restraint remain ethical ideals, and violent deeds carry moral and karmic weight.
Sañjaya describes Bāhlīka, in extreme anger, driving his śakti (spear/javelin) into Bhīma’s chest. The force of the blow is compared to Indra striking a mountain with the vajra, emphasizing the ferocity and power of the attack.