Shloka 119
तानन्तरिक्षे विशिखैस्त्रिधैकैकमशातयत् । विशेषयन् द्रोणसुतं तिष्ठ तिछेति चाब्रवीत्,परंतु भीमसेनने अपनी विशेषता स्थापित करते हुए अपने बाणोंद्वारा आकाशमें ही उन बाणोंमेंसे प्रत्येकके तीन-तीन टुकड़े कर डाले और द्रोणपुत्रसे कहा--“खड़ा रह, खड़ा रह”
tān antarīkṣe viśikhaiḥ tridhā ekaikam aśātayat | viśeṣayan droṇasutaṃ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt ||
Sañjaya said: Displaying his superior prowess, Bhīmasena shattered each of those arrows in mid-air into three pieces with his own shafts. Then, singling out Droṇa’s son, he called out, “Stand firm—stand firm!” In the ethical atmosphere of the war, the verse highlights the warrior’s duty to confront a formidable opponent openly, asserting valor and resolve rather than retreating.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness and open confrontation: prowess is shown through disciplined skill, and courage is expressed by directly challenging a worthy adversary rather than avoiding combat.
Bhīma intercepts and destroys the incoming arrows while they are still in the air, splitting each into three pieces, and then he addresses Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāmā), challenging him to stand his ground and face the fight.