Shloka 3
खाण्डवप्रस्थप्रवेशः तथा इन्द्रप्रस्थनिर्माणवर्णनम् | Entry into Khāṇḍavaprastha and Description of Indraprastha’s Founding
य: शल्यं मद्रराजं वै प्रोत्क्षिप्पापातयद् बली । त्रासयामास संक्रुद्धो वृक्षेण पुरुषान् रणे,जिस बलवान वीरने अत्यन्त कुपित हो मद्रराज शल्यको उठाकर पृथ्वीपर पटक दिया था और हाथमें वृक्ष ले रणभूमिमें समस्त योद्धाओंको भयभीत कर डाला था तथा जिस महातेजस्वी शूरवीरको उस समय तनिक भी घबराहट नहीं हुई थी, वह शत्रुसेनाके हाथी, घोड़े आदि अंगोंको मार गिरानेवाला तथा स्पर्शमात्रसे भय उत्पन्न करनेवाला महाबली भीमसेन था
yaḥ śalyaṃ madrarājaṃ vai protkṣipyāpātayad balī | trāsayāmāsa saṃkruddho vṛkṣeṇa puruṣān raṇe ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: The mighty warrior who, seizing King Śalya of Madra, hurled him down to the ground, and who—enraged—terrified the men on the battlefield by wielding a tree as a weapon, was Bhīmasena, a great champion whose very touch inspired fear and who struck down the enemy’s forces, including their elephants and horses. The verse highlights overwhelming martial power used to break hostile ranks and morale in war.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how sheer strength and fearless resolve can shatter an enemy’s morale in war; ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya ideal of confronting hostility directly, while also warning that uncontrolled anger (saṃkruddha) becomes a formidable, even terrifying force.
Vaiśaṃpāyana identifies the warrior as Bhīmasena: in battle he lifts King Śalya of Madra and slams him down, then, in fury, brandishes a tree to terrify opposing fighters and to break the enemy’s mounted and elephant forces.