Shloka 52
भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
हयान् ध्वजं धनुर्मुष्टिमुभौ तौ पार्ष्णिसारथी । स तथा भियद्यमानेषु कार्मुकेषु पुन: पुन:,सत्यजितके घोड़े, ध्वजा, धनुष, मुट्ठी तथा पार्श्वरक्षक एवं सारथि दोनोंको अर्जुनने क्षत-विक्षत कर दिया। इस प्रकार बार-बार धनुषके छिलन्न-भिन्न होने और घोड़ोंके मारे जानेपर सत्यजित् समर-भूमिसे भाग गये। राजन! उन्हें इस तरह युद्धसे विमुख हुआ देख पंचालनरेश ट्रुपदने पाण्डुनन्दन अर्जुनपर बड़े वेगसे बाणोंकी वर्षा प्रारम्भ की। तब विजयी वीरोंमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुनने उनसे बड़ा भारी युद्ध प्रारम्भ किया
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
hayān dhvajaṃ dhanurmuṣṭim ubhau tau pārṣṇisārathī |
sa tathā bhiyadyamāneṣu kārmukeṣu punaḥ punaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Arjuna struck down Satyajit’s horses and his banner, and shattered his bow and bow-hand; he also disabled both the side-guard and the charioteer. Thus, as his bows were repeatedly broken and his horses slain, Satyajit fled the battlefield. Seeing him turn away from the fight, King Drupada of the Pāñcālas poured a swift rain of arrows upon Pāṇḍu’s son Arjuna; and Arjuna, foremost among victorious warriors, engaged him in a great battle.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights kṣatriya-dharma in action: martial excellence is shown not merely by killing, but by disabling an opponent’s means of combat (horses, banner, bow, charioteer/guards), forcing retreat; it also shows how a leader (Drupada) responds when an ally withdraws, taking responsibility to continue the contest.
Arjuna overwhelms Satyajit by repeatedly breaking his bows and striking down his horses and support crew, causing Satyajit to flee. Drupada, seeing this retreat, immediately showers Arjuna with arrows and begins a major engagement with him.