Shloka 24
ततः स परिघाभेन द्विट्संघघ्नेन बाहुना । जाटासुरिं भैमसेनिरवधीन्मुष्टिना भूशम्,तत्पश्चात् भीमसेनपुत्र घटोत्कचने शत्रुसमूहोंका नाश करनेवाली अपनी परिघ-जैसी मोटी बाँहके मुक्केसे जटासुरके पुत्रको बहुत मारा
tataḥ sa parighābhena dviṭsaṅghaghnēna bāhunā | jāṭāsuriṁ bhaimasenir avadhīn muṣṭinā bhūśam ||
Sañjaya said: Then Bhīma’s son (Ghaṭotkaca), with his arm like an iron club—an arm that could crush masses of foes—struck down Jāṭāsuri (the son of Jatāsura) with a powerful fist, beating him severely. In the ethical frame of the war, this is presented as decisive force used to eliminate a dangerous enemy combatant amid the chaos of battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the battlefield ethic of decisive action: when a formidable enemy threatens one’s side, a warrior is expected to act swiftly and effectively. It reflects the Mahābhārata’s tension between compassion and the harsh necessities of dharma-yuddha, where protecting one’s allies and fulfilling martial duty can require lethal force.
Sañjaya reports that Ghaṭotkaca, Bhīma’s son, uses his club-like arm and a powerful fist to strike down Jāṭāsuri, described as the son of Jatāsura, dealing him a crushing blow amid the ongoing battle in Droṇa Parva.