Shloka 523
शकुनिवधः — Sahadeva’s Slaying of Śakuni
with Ulūka’s fall
इन्द्राशनिसमस्पर्श: समनन््तात् पर्यवाकिरत् । तत्पश्चात् भीमसेनने इन्द्रके वजकी भाँति कठोर स्पर्शवाले तीखे बाणोंद्वारा आपकी सेनाको चारों ओरसे ढक दिया
indrāśani-samasparśaḥ samantāt paryavākirat | tatpaścāt bhīmasenena indrasya vajravat kaṭhora-sparśaiḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ bāṇaiḥ tava senā caturdiśaṃ ācchāditā ||
Sañjaya berkata: Lalu Bhīmasena menghujani panah ke segala penjuru—panah-panah tajam yang sentuhannya keras dan membakar laksana wajra Indra—hingga pasukanmu tertutup dan terkurung dari setiap arah.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the relentless force of warfare and the kṣatriya ideal of unwavering combat-duty: prowess and resolve can dominate the battlefield, yet the ethical tension remains—victory is pursued through devastating means, testing courage, discipline, and adherence to one’s role (dharma) amid suffering.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma unleashes a thunderbolt-like barrage of sharp arrows, spreading them in every direction and effectively blanketing/hemming in the Kaurava army.