Shloka 146
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
जहार समरे प्राणान् भीमो भीमपराक्रम: । तब भयानक पराक्रमसे सम्पन्न भीमसेनने उस महायुद्धमें दूसरे दो भल्लोंद्वारा रणभूमिमें आपके दो पुत्रोंके प्राण हर लिये
jahāra samare prāṇān bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ |
Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, Bhīma—renowned for terrifying valor—took the lives of your sons. With dreadful prowess, Bhīmasena, using two additional sharp arrows, struck them down on the battlefield. The verse underscores the grim ethical weight of war: heroism here is inseparable from lethal duty, and victory is purchased through irreversible loss.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh moral reality of war: even celebrated valor manifests as the taking of life. It reflects kṣatriya-duty in battle while simultaneously emphasizing the tragic cost—victory and prowess are inseparable from grief and irreversible consequences.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma, displaying fearsome prowess, kills two of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons on the battlefield, striking them down decisively in the ongoing great war.