Shloka 43
Śālva’s Elephant Assault and the Counterstroke (शाल्वस्य नागारूढाभ्यवहारः)
भीममेवाभ्यवर्तन्त रणे<न्ये तु पदातय: । प्रक्षेड्यास्फोट्य संहृष्टा वीरलोक॑ यियासव:,तब रणभूमिमें अन्य पैदल योद्धा हर्ष और उत्साहमें भरकर भुजाओंपर ताल ठोंकते और सिंहनाद करते हुए वीरलोकमें जानेकी इच्छासे भीमसेनके ही सामने आ पहुँचे
bhīmam evābhyavartanta raṇe 'nye tu padātayaḥ | prakṣedyāsphoṭya saṁhṛṣṭā vīralokaṁ yiyāsavaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Dalam pertempuran itu, para prajurit pejalan kaki lainnya pun maju lurus menghadapi Bhīma seorang diri. Dengan girang dan bernafsu perang, mereka menepuk-nepuk lengan dan mengumandangkan pekik gagah, ingin berangkat menuju alam para pahlawan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the war-ethos where exhilaration and the desire for heroic fame can override prudence. It implicitly contrasts true dharmic courage—disciplined and purposeful—with reckless ardor that treats death as a sought-after destination.
Sanjaya describes how other infantrymen, energized and shouting, rush directly at Bhima on the battlefield, challenging him with arm-slapping and loud cries, as if eager to attain the heroes’ world through a glorious death.