Shloka 31
Bhīṣma–Karṇa Saṃvāda on the Śaraśayyā (भीष्म–कर्ण संवादः शरशय्यायाम्)
यत्र पार्थो महाराज भीमसेनश्न् पाण्डव: । कौरव्यस्य महासेनां जघ्नतु: सुमहारथौ,एकैकं त्रिभिरानर्च्छत् कड़ुकबर्हिणवाजितै: । उसके बाद सुशर्मा और कृपाचार्यको भी तीन-तीन बाणोंसे बींध डाला। राजेन्द्र! फिर समरांगणमें प्राग्ज्योतिषनरेश भगदत्त, सिन्धुराज जयद्रथ, चित्रसेन, विकर्ण, कृतवर्मा, दुर्मीषण तथा महारथी विन्द और अनुविन्द--इनमैंसे प्रत्येकको गीधकी पाँखसे युक्त तीन- तीन बाणोंद्वारा विशेष पीड़ा दी नरेश्वर! तदनन्तर दुर्योधनकी आज्ञा पाकर द्रोण तथा महारथी मगधनरेश उसी स्थानपर आये, जहाँ पाण्डुकुमार अर्जुन और भीमसेन--ये दोनों महारथी दुर्योधनकी विशाल सेनाका संहार कर रहे थे
sañjaya uvāca | yatra pārtho mahārāja bhīmasenaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ | kauravyasya mahāsenāṃ jaghnatuḥ sumahārathau | ekaikaṃ tribhir ānarccchat kaṅkubārhiṇavājitaiḥ |
Sañjaya said: O great king, there where Pārtha (Arjuna) and Bhīmasena, the Pāṇḍava—both mighty chariot-warriors—were slaughtering the vast army of the Kaurava, Arjuna struck each opposing hero with three arrows, their shafts adorned with the reddish-brown feathers of the heron. Thus, in the press of battle, he inflicted sharp pain and checked their advance, even as Duryodhana’s commanders, acting under orders, converged upon the spot to stem the destruction of their host.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds kṣatriya-dharma in its battlefield form: disciplined, targeted force used to restrain and repel aggressors. It also implicitly highlights the moral momentum of the war—Duryodhana’s side must continually rush commanders to contain the consequences of its own unjust course.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna and Bhīma are devastating the Kaurava host. Arjuna, in particular, strikes each opponent with three well-fletched arrows, causing pain and checking their advance as the Kaurava leadership attempts to respond and concentrate forces at that location.