Shloka 216
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
अवल्लुत्य रथात् तूर्ण तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचल: । प्रलयकालीन यमराजके समान भयंकर उन दोनों महारथियोंको आक्रमण करते देख महाबाहु भीमसेनने तुरंत ही गदा हाथमें ले ली और वे रथसे कूदकर पर्वतके समान अविचल भावसे खड़े हो गये
avallutya rathāt tūrṇaṁ tasthau girir ivācalaḥ | pralayakālīna-yamarāja-samaṁ bhayaṅkaraṁ tau ubhau mahārathī ākrāmantau dṛṣṭvā mahābāhu-bhīmasenaḥ tūrṇam eva gadāṁ pāṇau jagrāha, rathāc ca plutyā girir iva niścalabhāvena tasthau ||
Sanjaya said: Leaping down swiftly from his chariot, Bhimasena stood firm and unmoving like a mountain. Seeing those two great chariot-warriors rushing to attack—terrifying like Yama, the Lord of Death, at the time of cosmic dissolution—mighty-armed Bhima at once seized his mace and, springing from the chariot, took his stand with unshaken resolve.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kshatriya resolve: when confronted by overwhelming and fearsome opposition, a warrior is expected to meet the threat with steadiness (acalatva) and readiness, not panic—embodying courage and disciplined action in the midst of war.
Sanjaya describes Bhima reacting to the advance of two formidable maharathis. Bhima quickly takes up his mace, leaps down from his chariot, and stands his ground like an immovable mountain, prepared to engage them.