Shloka 35
Chapter 136: Pandava Counter-Encirclement and the Vāyavya-Astra Disruption
आहवेडतिरथो<तिष्ठज्ज्वलन्निव हुताशन:,परंतु अतिरथी भीमसेन अपने सुवर्णभूषित धनुषको ताने हुए प्रज्वलित अग्निके समान युद्धस्थलमें ही खड़े रहे
āhave 'tiratho 'tiṣṭhaj jvalann iva hutāśanaḥ
Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, that foremost chariot-warrior stood his ground, blazing like a sacrificial fire. The image underscores steadfast courage and disciplined resolve amid the moral weight of war—strength held in check by purpose rather than mere rage.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness under pressure: true martial excellence is not only power but the ability to remain firm and purposeful amid chaos, embodying disciplined courage aligned with one’s duty.
Sañjaya describes an elite warrior on the battlefield who holds position and appears to blaze like fire—an intensifying image that signals the warrior’s formidable presence and the escalating ferocity of the encounter.