Shloka 20
Bhagadattā’s Deployment Against Ghaṭotkaca; Elephant-Corps Escalation
रणे पण्डितकश्नैनं त्रिभिर्बाणै: समार्पयत् । स तन्न ममृषे भीम: शत्रुभिर्वधमाहवे,पण्डितकने उस युद्धमें तीन बाणोंसे भीमसेनको घायल कर दिया। तब भीम उस रणक्षेत्रमें शत्रुओंद्वारा किये हुए प्रहारको सहन न कर सके
raṇe paṇḍitakaś cainaṃ tribhir bāṇaiḥ samārpayat | sa tan na mamṛṣe bhīmaḥ śatrubhir vadham āhave |
Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, Paṇḍitaka struck Bhīmasena with three arrows. Bhīma could not endure that assault dealt by his enemies on the battlefield, and his wrath rose in response to the injury and challenge.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya battlefield ethic: injury and challenge are met with steadfastness and a forceful response. It also shows how quickly anger can arise when one feels attacked—an ethical tension in war between endurance (kṣamā) and the duty to retaliate in combat.
Sañjaya reports that the warrior Paṇḍitaka wounds Bhīmasena with three arrows. Bhīma, unable to tolerate the enemies’ assault in the fight, is provoked—setting up his counteraction in the continuing battle scene.