Shloka 53
Droṇavadha-saṃniveśaḥ — The Convergence Toward Droṇa’s Fall
Book 7, Chapter 164
प्रायाद् द्रुतममित्रघ्नो यत्र भीमो व्यवस्थित: । विनिष्नंस्तावकान् योधान् व्यादितास्य इवान्तक:,भगवान् श्रीकृष्णका यह वचन सुनकर धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने दो घड़ीतक उस दारुण युद्धके विषयमें सोचा। फिर वे तुरंत वहाँ चले गये, जहाँ शत्रुओंका संहार करनेवाले भीमसेन आपके योद्धाओंका वध करते हुए मुँह फैलाये यमराजके समान खड़े थे
sañjaya uvāca | prāyād drutam amitraghno yatra bhīmo vyavasthitaḥ | viniṣnans tāvakān yodhān vyāditāsya ivāntakaḥ |
Sañjaya said: The slayer of foes hastened quickly to the place where Bhīma stood firm—cutting down your warriors, gaping like Antaka (Death) himself. Hearing Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s words, Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira reflected for a short while on that dreadful battle, and then at once set out to where Bhīmasena, like Yama with open jaws, was destroying your troops.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical tension of dharma in war: even a righteous king (Yudhiṣṭhira) must act decisively after reflection, while the narrative does not romanticize violence—Bhīma’s prowess is framed through stark ‘Death’ imagery, reminding the listener of war’s dreadful reality.
After hearing Kṛṣṇa’s words, Yudhiṣṭhira briefly contemplates the grim battle and then quickly goes to the spot where Bhīma stands firm, slaughtering the Kaurava warriors, appearing like Antaka/Yama with a gaping mouth.