Shloka 20
तैस्तस्य निशितैस्ती&$णैरभीमसेनो महाबल: । चिच्छेद परवीरघ्न: प्रहसन्निव भारत
tais tasya niśitais tīkṣṇair abhīmaseno mahābalaḥ | ciccheda paravīraghnaḥ prahasann iva bhārata ||
Sañjaya said: With those sharp, keen arrows, the mighty Bhīmasena—slayer of enemy heroes—cut down his opponent’s weapons, as if laughing, O Bhārata. The verse underscores Bhīma’s fearless composure in battle: strength joined with confidence becomes a decisive force, even amid the grave moral weight of fratricidal war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior ideal of steadiness under pressure: disciplined strength and presence of mind can neutralize danger swiftly. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s tension—heroic excellence displayed within a tragic war where victory still carries moral cost.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma, using sharp arrows, severs the opponent’s missiles or armaments. His action is described as effortless—‘as if laughing’—emphasizing Bhīma’s dominance and confidence in that exchange of combat.