Shloka 103
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
अथीैनं तत्र संलीनमस्पृशद् धनुषा पुनः । प्रहसंश्व॒ पुनर्वाक्यं भीममाह वृषस्तदा,तत्पश्चात् वहाँ छिपे हुए भीमसेनका कर्णने पुनः धनुषसे स्पर्श किया और उस समय उनका उपहास करते हुए फिर कहा--
athainaṃ tatra saṃlīnam aspṛśad dhanuṣā punaḥ | prahaṃś ca punaḥ vākyaṃ bhīmam āha vṛṣas tadā ||
Sañjaya said: Then Karṇa again touched Bhīma—who was lying concealed there—with his bow. Mocking him, Vṛṣa (Karṇa) once more addressed Bhīma with taunting words, intensifying the humiliation amid the ruthless ethics of battlefield rivalry.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how ridicule and psychological aggression accompany physical violence in war, raising ethical questions about kṣatriya conduct: victory pursued through taunts and humiliation can degrade dharma even when martial skill is present.
Bhīma is described as concealed or lying low; Karṇa approaches, touches him again with his bow (a gesture of dominance and provocation), and then speaks to him mockingly, escalating the confrontation through derisive speech.