Shloka 496
Bhagadatta’s Advance, the Saṃśaptaka Challenge, and Arjuna’s Counterstrike (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय २६)
प्राग्ज्योतिषमभिक्रुद्ध: पुनर्भीम: समभ्ययात् । भगदत्तके द्वारा समरभूमिमें पाण्डव-सैनिकोंके खदेड़े जानेपर भीमसेन कुपित हो पुनः प्राग्ज्योतिषके स्वामी भगदत्तपर चढ़ आये
prāgjyotiṣam abhikruddhaḥ punar bhīmaḥ samabhyayāt | bhagadattake dvārā samarabhūmau pāṇḍava-sainikānāṃ khadeṛe jane 'pi bhīmasenaḥ kupitaḥ punaḥ prāgjyotiṣa-svāminaṃ bhagadattaṃ pratyāruroha |
Sanjaya berkata: Murka, Bhima sekali lagi maju menghadapi Bhagadatta, penguasa Pragjyotisha. Walau Bhagadatta telah memukul mundur pasukan Pandawa dari medan laga, amarah Bhimasena menyala karena pasukannya tercerai-berai; ia pun menerjang lagi ke arah Bhagadatta, bertekad membalas kekuatan dengan kekuatan dan memulihkan kehormatan pihaknya dalam pertempuran.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic: a warrior-leader feels responsible for his troops and responds to their rout with renewed resolve. At the same time, it implicitly raises the moral tension between righteous courage and anger-driven action—valor is praised, but wrath can cloud judgment.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma, angered after Bhagadatta has driven back the Pāṇḍava soldiers, advances again to confront Bhagadatta, the ruler of Prāgjyotiṣa, re-entering the clash to counter the setback.