Shloka 56
भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः
Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas
एकैकं पजञ्चभिर्बाणैर्यमदण्डोपमै: शितै: । ट्रोणाचार्यने यमदण्डके समान भयंकर एवं तीखे पाँच-पाँच बाणोंद्वारा सात्यकि और भीमसेनमेंसे प्रत्येकको घायल किया। पहले सात्यकिको चोट पहुँचाकर फिर भीमसेनपर गहरा आघात किया,उत्सृज्य रजतप्रख्यान् हयान् पार्थस्य मारिष । वासुदेवस्ततो योगी प्रचस्कन्द महारथात् तब शत्रुवीरोंका नाश करनेवाले महाबाहु माधवको यह सहन नहीं हुआ। आर्य! वे योगेश्वर भगवान् वासुदेव चाँदीके समान सफेद रंगवाले अर्जुनके घोड़ोंको छोड़कर उस विशाल रथसे कूद पड़े और केवल भुजाओंका ही आयुध लिये हाथोंमें चाबुक उठाये बारंबार सिंहनाद करते हुए बलवान् एवं तेजस्वी श्रीहरि भीष्मकी ओर बड़े वेगसे दौड़े
sañjaya uvāca |
ekaikaṃ pañcabhir bāṇair yamadaṇḍopamaiḥ śitaiḥ |
droṇācāryaḥ sa yama-daṇḍaka-samān bhayaṅkarān evaṃ tīkhān pañca-pañca-bāṇair sātyakiṃ bhīmasenaṃ ca pratyekaṃ vyathayat |
pūrvaṃ sātyakiṃ viddhvā tataḥ bhīmasenam api gāḍham āhatavān |
utsṛjya rajata-prakhyān hayān pārthasya māriṣ |
vāsudevas tato yogī pracakṣkanda mahārathāt ||
Sañjaya said: With five razor-sharp arrows at a time, comparable to Yama’s staff, Droṇa struck each of them—Sātyaki and Bhīmasena—inflicting fearsome wounds; first he hurt Sātyaki, and then he dealt a heavy blow to Bhīma. Then Vāsudeva, the master of yoga, unable to endure this, released Arjuna’s silver-white horses and leapt down from the great chariot. Taking only his own arms as weapons, whip in hand, roaring like a lion again and again, the mighty and radiant Hari rushed with great speed toward Bhīṣma, intent on the destruction of the enemy heroes.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical tension of war: even when bound by the role of charioteer, Kṛṣṇa’s protective duty and compassion for the Pāṇḍava side surge forth when allies are grievously harmed. It dramatizes the struggle between restraint (dharma-bound roles) and righteous intervention to prevent adharma-driven slaughter.
Droṇa strikes Sātyaki and Bhīma with volleys of five sharp arrows, likened to Yama’s rod, wounding them severely. Seeing this, Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) releases Arjuna’s horses and jumps down from the chariot, whip in hand, roaring and charging at Bhīṣma with great speed.