Shloka 9
Śalya–Bhīma Gadā-saṃnipāta and Śalya’s Bāṇa-jāla against Yudhiṣṭhira
Book 9, Chapter 11
बलिभि: पाण्डवैर्दप्तैर्लब्धलक्षै: प्रहारिभि: । कौरव्यसीदत् पृतना मृगीवाग्निसमाकुला,पाण्डव योद्धा बलवान् और प्रहारकुशल थे। उनका निशाना कभी खाली नहीं जाता था। उनकी मार खाकर कौरव-सेना दावानलसे घिरी हुई हरिणीके समान अत्यन्त संतप्त हो उठी
sañjaya uvāca |
balibhiḥ pāṇḍavair daptair labdhalakṣaiḥ prahāribhiḥ |
kauravy asīdat pṛtanā mṛgīvāgnisamākulā ||
Sañjaya berkata: Dihantam oleh para Pāṇḍava yang perkasa—bangga akan keberanian, tak pernah meleset sasarannya, dan mahir melancarkan pukulan—barisan Kaurava mulai runtuh, laksana seekor rusa betina yang terkurung oleh kobaran api rimba.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how superior skill and unwavering effectiveness in action can shatter an opposing force’s stability; it also evokes the ethical tragedy of war by comparing the terrified army to a helpless deer trapped by wildfire.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava troops are reeling and beginning to collapse under the powerful, accurate, and forceful attacks of the Pāṇḍava warriors.